Monday, September 28, 2026

Pasadena Education Network Walks Parents Through Choosing an Elementary School

[Shutterstock]

Free Wednesday evening session at the Southern California Children’s Museum covers test scores, school ratings and Pasadena Unified options

Parents weighing where to send a child to elementary school can hear an overview of Pasadena Unified’s options on Wednesday evening, when the Pasadena Education Network holds its free program “PEN: Choosing an Elementary School” at the Southern California Children’s Museum.

Jennifer Miyake-Trapp, a parent and education expert, provides an overview of what Pasadena Unified has to offer. She will explain what test scores and school ratings do and don’t tell a family about a school, and how a family’s own values, along with insights from school visits and parent perspectives, can contribute to the decision.

The presentation is followed by a chance to meet and chat with parents of children currently attending elementary schools across PUSD. A parent representative from the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education will also be on hand to answer questions about accessing special education services in the district.

This is an in-person program. PEN will share Miyake-Trapp’s presentation on its Facebook page, but the interactive portion of the program will not be recorded.

PEN was founded by parents, for parents, in 2006, and it is now a network of more than 2,000 parents who support and send their children to Pasadena Unified schools. The independent grass-roots nonprofit promotes family participation in public education to benefit all students in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre, and its services include School Fact Sheets, school tours, Parent Ambassadors and a weekly e-newsletter.

The session runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the museum, 459 East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. Admission is free.

Come with a short list of schools and specific questions for the parents in the room. Families with a child who receives special education services should bring those questions to the Community Advisory Committee representative.

PEN: Choosing an Elementary School will run on Wednesday, September 30 at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Southern California Children’s Museum, 459 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. For more information, call (866) 216-7334 or visit https://www.penfamilies.org/calendar/2026/9/30/pen-choosing-an-elementary-school. Admission is free.