Employees Want Strong Local Schools. Helping Them is Good Business.

By Emily Villamar-Robbins

We know that happy employees are more productive, and most employers take steps to support well-being in the workplace. But what about life events that employees can’t just leave at home? Stress levels can impact motivation and focus, both at home and on the job.  

If you’ve spent time around kids, it will come as no surprise that parenting can be a significant source of stress. The U.S. Surgeon General even issued a recent warning about parents’ increasing stress levels. While there can be many causes, one common stressor involves a child’s K-12 educational journey. If a child’s school is struggling—whether because of financial strain, high staff turnover, inadequate staff training, large class sizes, disciplinary issues, or something else—stress can increase for students and their parents.  

Some students have unmet needs in school, whether due to disabilities or other learning needs, which makes parenting even more difficult—— and stress isn’t the only challenge for these parents at work. Parents may miss hours or days of work to attend meetings or to be home during student absences. Even “normal” school obligations are so time-consuming that a number of states (though not Texas) require employers to offer leave for attending daytime school activities. In Texas, many parents have concerns about school closures, high-stakes testing, and school funding, all issues that can compound the struggles of students with disabilities or learning differences.  

Fortunately, there’s good news: employers can actually help reduce these stressors for their employees in several ways. Let’s look at a few options your business might consider exploring. 

Support Public Schools

No matter where you do business, your local public schools need help. Businesses can get involved in a number of ways, from direct financial contributions to sponsorships of special initiatives, such as distribution events for donated backpacks or school supplies. Many districts offer “adopt a school” programs, and some districts receive help from foundation fundraising or corporate partnerships. Schools always need volunteers, and some districts connect companies with volunteer opportunities for their employees. High schools may be looking for businesses to help with mentorships or internship placements. If your nearest schools aren’t yet set up to accept your help directly, there are often nonprofit PTAs or PTOs supporting those schools with opportunities for involvement.  

Why do public schools need our help? Here in Texas, even after targeted increases during the last legislative session, our state still trails the national average in per-student spending. Over the past two years, districts have been forced to close schools or cut programs, and additional closures have been discussed. Public schools have always benefited from community involvement, but now more than ever, your company’s support can have a direct impact on the schools attended by your employees’ children. The reputation of local schools can also influence the decisions of potential job applicants. In addition to supporting schools directly, you can let your elected officials know that state funding for public education is a priority for your business.  

Offer Advising Benefits

When a child’s needs aren’t being met at school, it can be difficult and time-consuming for parents to locate accurate, comprehensive information and advice. Education advising offers an immediate, time-saving way for parents to get answers and help. Children with disabilities and learning differences often have complex and even conflicting needs, and a legal advisor can help parents understand what should be happening and their options for pursuing solutions. 

In addition to disability questions, a sometimes overlooked need involves advanced learning. Students who learn faster or at a more advanced level than their peers can suffer negative effects if teaching isn’t adjusted to let them learn. Laws related to gifted education and advanced learning are state-specific, and the resources parents rely on for other school issues may not help when it comes to these areas. Not every child has advanced learning needs, but in many Texas districts, up to 10% of students receive GT services (also called TAG or GATE), and difficulties with these services impact the employees of businesses across the state. 

For families with school challenges, effective advising can help reduce stress and the time spent on solving problems. When children can thrive in their schools, parents can avoid the time-consuming process of exploring school alternatives or relocating. For new hires, advising benefits can also help parents evaluate programs as they make relocation decisions. 

Explore Family-Friendly Policies

Although Texas doesn’t require employee leave for school activities, providing this benefit could help reduce parents’ stress levels. Communication between parents and teachers improves home-school partnerships, and when employees need to attend teacher conferences, ARD meetings, or 504 meetings, removing the worry of work absences can help. According to some researchers, family-friendly policies can improve employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity, among other benefits. For companies competing for talent, it may be worth noting recent surveys showing the increasing appeal of these policies to prospective employees.

While companies can’t eliminate all sources of employee stress, K-12 education is one area where a little help can go a long way. Strengthening local schools, giving employees a tool to navigate school challenges, and exploring family-friendly policies can all allow companies to target productivity while adding value for employees. Beyond the business benefits, local children will be helped by support for their schools, which strengthens the future workforce, fosters community goodwill, and improves young lives.  

As Lyndon B. Johnson once said:  “We believe, that is, you and I, that education is not an expense. We believe it is an investment.”  For companies looking to make a positive impact on employee performance and their communities, supporting education may be the perfect fit—and this year is a great time to make that investment.  

Emily Villamar-Robbins is an attorney with Fulton Jeang PLLC. The Fulton Jeang school law practice provides legal services to parents, and the firm also provides education advising packages as employee benefits to small to mid-size businesses. Emily can be reached at e.villamar [at] fultonjeang.com.

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