Who’s in charge of Gaza? Nobody. Neither Israeli troops nor the Hamas police force is on the streets, leaving citizens prey to a dangerous breakdown of law and order.

• Hur testifies: The House Judiciary Committee hears testimony from special counsel Robert Hur as a 345-page transcript of President Joe Biden’s testimony last fall is released, showing he repeatedly insisted he never meant to retain classified information. The transcript also suggests the exchange was less revealing about Mr. Biden’s memory than Mr. Hur indicated.
• Aid to Ukraine: The United States will rush about $300 million in weapons to Ukraine after finding cost savings in contracts. It’s the Pentagon’s first announced security package for Ukraine since December.
• Haitian leader to resign: Ariel Henry announces he will step down once a transitional presidential council is created. Haiti has been  overwhelmed by violent gangs and widespread violence.
• New online IRS tool: Taxpayers in 12 states who have simple W-2s and claim a standard deduction may be eligible to use Direct File, a free electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS. The pilot is part of a U.S. government effort to build an alternative to commercial tax preparation software.

Read these news briefs.

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The pandemic’s lingering impact on K-12 education – notably, a record absenteeism among students – has forced American educators to look hard at how they can better engage with parents. Nationwide gaps in student learning, one result of Zoom-only classrooms, still need urgent solutions. The usual home-school connections, such as parent-teacher meetings, are no longer seen as enough. Schools are even challenging a long-held assumption that some parents simply don’t care much about their kids’ schooling.

Money is pouring in to find fresh approaches. The federal government recently spent $83 million to support “family engagement” in public schools. California has approved new standards for teachers in shaping their relationships with parents. Teachers, for example, must examine their attitudes and biases about a family’s background, such as language, social status, or even homelessness.

Private philanthropy is backing different techniques. A survey last year by Grantmakers for Education found that 60% of education funders support efforts to help families become more involved in their children’s education. Half of those funders said they plan to give more for the cause.

Many successes in shaping a more sensitive school engagement with parents have resulted in at least one conclusion: “Families really care,” Elisabeth O’Bryon, co-founder of Family Engagement Lab, told Education Week. Her nonprofit helps school districts successfully include family engagement with curriculum.

A former school psychologist, Dr. O’Bryon said in an interview that parents clearly “want information about what their kids are learning and how they can help.” The changes can be as simple as requiring fewer apps for parents to download. Communication can be more fluid, such as using texting. Demands for in-person meetings can be more flexible. Home visits by teachers to establish better relationships can build trust.

A recent study found that schools that scored high on family involvement before the pandemic saw a 39% smaller increase in chronic absenteeism. Those schools also showed less decline in math and English. “With family engagement you see positive outcomes with behavior, motivation, high school graduation, so it’s really wide-ranging – the positive benefits of that engagement with their child’s learning,” Dr. O’Bryon says.

With an approach of giving and problem-solving, family engagement is a team effort well worth the buy-in from all sides. Parental love is there. It just needs better ways to blossom.

Editor's Note: The editorial has been change to give the correct full name of the Family Engagement Lab.