01Start small
Three to five parents in one district is enough to begin. Keep advocacy in its own space, separate from playdate and community groups.
02Show the board how many families care
Survey parents to show the board how many families share your concerns. Fairplay’s Screens in Schools Action Kit includes a guide to using surveys.
Petitions work when they lead to a specific ask. In Bend, a petition with more than 1,000 signatures helped prompt a board resolution.
03Bring teachers in early
In Bend, the teachers’ union president supported much of the resolution but wished the union had been asked for input. Frame your asks as supporting teachers, not policing them.
04Share the work
- Coordinator
- Researcher
- Records lead
- Communications
- School board meeting lead
05You’re not alone
Templates for this step
See all templatesHow to start a district parent group
A guide to starting and running a parent group in your school district.
Parent survey
A survey shows the board how many families share a concern, which is often more persuasive than any single speaker.
Petition text
Petitions work best with a few specific, reasonable asks.
Last reviewed September 27, 2026.