Familycentric School as a Solution to School Refusal/School Can’t

School refusal, sometimes called school can’t, is a growing problem in Australia and around the world. It has coincided with a period of distrust in schools and a sense that schools are not serving the needs of their communities. One approach that can bridge the gap between schools and their communities is Familycentric schooling. This approach involves bringing families into the classroom and working with parents as leaders alongside teachers. This paper examined submissions to a parliamentary inquiry into homeschooling after a period of school can’t. These families reported they wanted to support their children, but the school was not welcoming. The paper finds that Familycentric schooling, with its approach of welcoming parent knowledge in the classroom and working alongside professionals to support young people in their learning and engagement in school, could be a solution to prevent school can’t and encourage young people to reengage with school. It suggests that the role of schools has changed and that Familycentric schooling may help schools adapt to the needs of twenty-first century parents.