Across the country, school board meetings have become ground zero for political and ideological debates. COVID protocols, mask policies and differing philosophies of how to teach American history have garnered much of the headlines — and even been cited as a winning political strategy. After 18 months of unpredictable (and often frustrating) pandemic schooling, education...

This year, parents’ lens on education has radically changed. Many school buildings are empty while their students sit at the kitchen table, learning on video screens. Some children have returned to school, bringing home anecdotes about masks and socially distant lunch lines. More than ever, parents can see clearly what their children need academically and...