TalkingPoints: The Podcast

Falling enrollment isn’t just a numbers game; it’s a story problem. Every school-family interaction shapes your district’s public image. Communications leaders who recognize this can turn everyday moments into powerful PR that builds trust, boosts reputation, and drives enrollment. In this session, hear insights from Patti Moon, Chief Communications Officer at Aurora Public Schools, and learn how...

In this short, "TalkingPoints: Fast Facts" episode of TalkingPoints: The Podcast , we dig into a routine task with a big impact: sending messages home. With nearly 1 in 4 students in U.S. schools speaking a language other than English at home, every message is an opportunity to build trust—or accidentally create confusion. You’ll learn eight simple strategies to make your messages cleare...

*This is the third in a 3-part series about a groundbreaking approach that deploys family engagement as an effective intervention itself within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Visit episodes 2 and 13 for the first two parts of the series. Identifying and understanding the root cause of a struggling student is key to getting them back on track. Families often hold the clearest insight into where...

See how research-backed strategies and new features help districts partner with families to cut absenteeism, strengthen family engagement, and get students back on track. Chronic absenteeism rates are at near-record highs. Every missed day compounds learning loss. But what if you could turn the tide with proven strategies that deliver real results? Let’s build something great together— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠s...

A strong school-family partnership is often established at the beginning of the school year. Back-to-school information and refreshed communication protocols outline a foundation that gives the relationship a fresh start. But by the second semester, new challenges may arise. What worked back in the fall may not be as effective in January. In this webinar, the TalkingPoints team shares strategies f...

In this, the first TalkingPoints Solutions episode of our show, we share an up-close demo of one of our newest products! TalkingPoints Attendance Improvement Plus helps schools and districts turn attendance data into meaningful action to reduce absenteeism. By enabling two-way communication with families—powered by industry-leading translation—Attendance Improvement Plus supports attendance staff...

Family engagement is often seen as a support within MTSS, Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports. But what if it were treated as an intervention itself? This episode explores how to evolve MTSS strategies to position family engagement as a complete proactive intervention strategy. Listen to this episode, led by the TalkingPoints team, to learn about these five actionable steps to make family engagement...

Listen to this episode to discover how districts like Minneapolis Public Schools are building systemwide cultures of learning, moving from problem-fixing to solution-building with families. You’ll walk away with: A playbook for using dual-level digital engagement to strengthen learning culture around the classroom—so families and educators can focus on the classroom. Practical strategies to unlock...

For a decade, TalkingPoints has pioneered AI for social impact—long before it was mainstream. We have partnered with leaders like Google and OpenAI, harnessed big datasets, and were the first nonprofit to secure a GPT-3 license and the first social impact organization to experiment with custom GPTs. Today, our team of innovators continues to push boundaries and do things that weren’t possible even...

Congratulations! You’ve made it past the beginning of the school year and built variable baseline relationships with your students’ families. Now’s the time to maximize those partnerships for the good of the students. To quote TalkingPoints founder and CEO, “Families are the game-changer.” In this edWebinar, the presenters discuss what comes after meaningful parent-teacher conferences. How do teac...

The first weeks of school don’t just launch the year; they shape everything that follows. Listen to or watch this on-webinar designed for district and school leaders. You’ll walk away with hands-on tools to build the kind of family-school partnerships that fuel trust, equity, and student success all year long. When educators and families partner from the start, we create school cultures where ever...

Bensalem Township School District set out to strengthen school-home connections across their district. Through collaboration with stakeholders, they gathered feedback and created action plans. What began as a pilot of TalkingPoints quickly evolved into a district-wide rollout. The result? A more equitable, inclusive school community where every family feels welcome and informed. Language barriers...

Effective communication doesn't have to be at odds with building lasting trust. District communication leaders are often tasked with managing high-priority operational updates and urgent, district-wide messaging. Watch this webinar to learn these five essential strategies for tackling both kinds of communications while also fostering positive, trusting relationships with families. Move beyond...

As a K-12 leader, you face immense pressure to improve student outcomes. Getting students into the classroom is often the most critical first step. Watch this webinar to discover new TalkingPoints enhancements for the 2024-2025 school year that can help you: Supercharge attendance by removing language barriers and opening lines of communication. Unlock family engagement superpowers with innovative...

When families are empowered to communicate with schools, real change happens. San Juan Unified School District listened to what families needed and reimagined what true engagement could look like. In this webinar, San Juan Unified and TalkingPoints share the story of how they transformed their strategy using a high-impact, scalable solution built on two-way communication. By the end of the webinar...

For too long, school districts have been asked to do more with less. But what if the key to stronger student outcomes isn’t about working harder, it’s about thinking differently. By embracing three key mindset shifts around family engagement, districts can achieve measurable gains in attendance, academic achievement, and student well-being. Watch this webinar to learn actionable steps for adopting...

This On-demand webinar brings together a panel of experts who will highlight breakthroughs from the field —what’s working right now—and actionable strategies district leaders can use immediately. Attendance Work’s Hedy Chang will share the latest data and a shifting, root-cause-based approach to attendance grounded in family partnerships. TalkingPoints’ Mallary Swartz, PhD will present research on...

By reframing family engagement as a high-impact strategy for student support, districts can lay the groundwork for meaningful change. Check out this webinar to learn five actionable steps to address key challenges to student success. You’ll discover how to: Strengthen teacher recruitment and retention Boost student attendance Promote the well-being of students, staff, and families Let’s build some...

Today’s school systems are navigating a complex set of challenges—including behavior and mental health concerns, chronic absenteeism, AI disruption, staff burnout, and shrinking budgets. The pressure around the classroom is overwhelming the work inside it. The truth is, schools cannot solve these problems alone. And neither can families. Tackling today’s challenges will require schools and familie...