Do Parents Matter? Questions Senators Should Ask Education Nominee Betsy DeVos

Who are the most powerful influences on students' academic achievement? Teachers? School administrators? D.C. Beltway policy wonks? Foundation officials? Civil rights organizations? Most people with common sense would point to children's parents. Whether or not they grew up in a family (i.e., not in an orphanage), most people know that students' families are more important to school performance than any other factor.

Who are the most powerful influences on students' academic achievement? Teachers? School administrators? D.C. Beltway policy wonks? Foundation officials? Civil rights organizations? Most people with common sense would point to children's parents. Whether or not they grew up in a family (i.e., not in an orphanage), most people know that students' families are more important to school performance than any other factor.…