UPDATED | The New York Times, like other news organizations in the city and the Department of Education itself, will soon publish the teacher data reports that were the subject of a prolonged Freedom of Information effort. In SchoolBook’s spirit of conversation and community contribution, we are inviting any teacher who was rated to provide her or his response or explanation. We plan to include those responses alongside the ratings themselves, so readers can consider them together. You can find the response form in this post.

How do you raise enough for a respectable gift for the pre-K teacher without making anyone feel bad? The writer, a co-class parent, also shares her Uncle Billy/Mr. Potter moment when an envelope of cash goes missing.

Because of baby sitter/husband communication bobbles, our undecorated flags were apparently sitting on the kitchen table rather than ready for posting outside my twins’ prekindergarten classroom. No problem, the teachers said, bring them Monday. But I did have a problem: What is our culture, and how could we possibly depict it on a flag?

You know that feeling when you finish setting up for a party, and you’re waiting for what seems like forever for your fashionably late friends, and you convince yourself that they’ve all conspired against you not to show up? It’s even worse when your 4-year-old daughter keeps asking, “Where are all the guests?” So began Sunday’s parents and child brunch, as recounted in the latest post by a new class parent.

Adventures of a new class parent: “It took nearly two weeks, but I finally managed to get an e-mail (and phone) list together for the parents of my twins’ pre-K class. Then I was told I was doing it wrong.”

Articles in The Times about top-tier private schools moving to cut back homework and about Fieldston firing a teacher who made comments some perceived as racist, stimulated comments and questions about why The Times covers private schools. The education editor, Jodi Rudoren, explains.

What are the duties of a class parent? “I have no idea,” writes Jodi Rudoren. But being chosen by Ms. H. left her with a little thrill and a little fear. And she will be blogging about it all year.