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5 Questions to Ask As the New School Year Begins  

Stories & Spotlights
Summer Signals

Summer has a way of slowing things down, giving families space to breathe, reconnect, and pay attention to the things that often get lost in the rush of the school year. For many parents, it’s also when you start to notice little shifts in your child’s mood or energy. Maybe they seem lighter. More talkative. Or maybe the opposite – tense, withdrawn, or guarded when school comes up in conversation.  

In the years since the pandemic, more families are taking a step back to reconsider what learning should look and feel like. What kind of environment actually works best for their child?   

While most school transfers tend to happen mid-year, the conversation often begins in summer. That’s when more candid, low-pressure talks happen.  

“Parents tend to wait for the big red flags,” says Katie Beck, Carolina Online Academy (COA) High School counselor. “But the truth is, it’s the quieter clues – the tone in your child’s voice, the change in their confidence – that reveal the most.”  

If you’re sensing something might be off, here are five open-ended questions that can help your child reflect on their school experience and open up about how they’re really feeling:  

  1. What’s something from the last school year that made you proud? What’s something you wish had gone differently?  This helps your child process the year as a whole, the good and the not-so-good, with a balanced perspective.  
  2. How did your classmates treat each other? Did you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable  Social dynamics can shape a student’s experience more than we realize. This question encourages honest dialogue about peer interactions.  
  3. What made learning hard for you this year? What kind of support do you think would have helped? Without fear of judgment or punishment, kids are often more open to sharing what didn’t work – and what might
  4. If you could design your perfect school day, what would it look like? Your child’s response may reveal preferences around pacing, environment, flexibility, or learning style.  
  5. What’s something you hope is different about next year? Sometimes students know exactly what they need, they just need someone to ask.  

“This isn’t a checklist,” Beck says. “It’s about creating a calm, safe space for your child to talk.” As the new school year approaches, now is the time to reflect and reevaluate. If your child seems hesitant about returning to the same environment, it might be an opportunity, not a problem.   

Here are a few ways to explore what’s next:  

  • Talk to your current school counselor to see if there are alternative programs or accommodations that might better support your child.  
  • Visit your state’s Department of Education website to learn more about virtual public school options like Carolus Online Academy.  
  • Consult with an education specialist if you need help navigating options.  

“Education isn’t one-size-fits-all,” comments Beck. “If your child starts asking for something different, don’t see it as a red flag. It’s a signal that it’s time to explore and find what fits.”  

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