Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Starting from a focus group, individual interviews and surveys of parents in the Dollarway School District in Jefferson County, Arkansas; this project culminated in a Summer Involvement Institute with participants from 23 schools, along with several community-based organizations. During the period leading up to the Summer Institute, data relating to parental involvement was collected using interviews and surveys. In 2003 eight parents and two teachers were initially interviewed leading to the development of and administering of surveys. Two hundred thirty one respondents completed the survey. Parents were found to be critical of their involvement in the education of their children. Parents expressed anger in response to what teachers said in the presence of their children. Parents and educators expressed diverse views on parental involvement. However, both parents and teachers had a level of understanding of the difficulties faced by each other. In 2004 additional
survey were collected from head start employees and parents. Information gathered was shared in the Family Involvement Summer Institute. With the resignation of the Principal Investigator, a proposal for continuation of this research project was developed with collaboration between the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Tuskegee University, where the Principal Investigator was employed, however, the collaborative was not developed. Therefore, the project terminated.
Impacts
Input from the project was used by the task force in collaboration with an Arkansas legislator assisted in developing language to present a legislative bill supporting parental involvement in the education of their children. In June 2003, The Arkansas legislators passed Act 603, requiring parental involvement plans in schools. This project established a partnership between the Pine Bluff and Dollarway School Districts in Jefferson County, Arkansas. The Family Involvement Summer Institute had participation from 23 schools and several community-based organizations. Approximately 120 teachers, administrators, parents, educators, policy makers and community leaders were in attendance.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 07/31/04
Outputs
About 200 head start employees responded to a mini survey on parental involvement. Seventy-five profiles of head start graduates who spoke about the relationship between family involvement and successful academic and personal outcomes were received. In June 2004, a Family Involvement Summer Institute was held on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The goal of the Family Involvement Summer Institute was to bring together schools, comminutes, and families around core issues in an effort to facilitate an understanding of diverse viewpoints about school involvement. The theme of the institute was "Working to Connect Schools and Families." Two key points are critical to this concept: As educators, we must focus on talking with families, not about families, and given increasing national statistics on those caring for school-age children, it is time that we move from the term parent involvement to family involvement.
Impacts
This research project has established a collaboration with head start centers across the nation. Most of them expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to provide voice about this important issue. The June 15-16 2004 Family Involvement Summer Institute included approximately 120 teachers, administrators, parents, parent educators, policy makers, and community leaders for the two-day period. Two keynote speakers, considered as experts in the area of parental involvement, highlighted the conference. Dr. Diana Hiatt-Michael, Professor of Education at Pepperdine University and Dr. Irene Lee, Cooperative Extension Program Administrator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The Summer Institute highlighted the importance of establishing partnerships between schools, universities and community agencies. One main focus for schools is Act 603, a state legislation requiring public schools to create a parental involvement plan. The bill sponsor, Dr. Calvin Johnson
and Dee Cox, from the Arkansas State Department of Education. facilitated sessions to assist schools to write their plan.
Publications
- Terrell, S. (unpublished, 2003). Ending the debate: Parents Speak About Parental Involvement.
- Prater, L. and Terrell, S. (In Press, 2005). Parental Empowerment and Multicultural Special Education. In (Eds.) Obiakor, F. Multicultural Special Education. Merrill Publication.
- Terrell, S. (Unpublished, 2004). From Head Start to Public Schools: Perspectives on Parental Involvement.
- Terrell, S. (Unpublished, 2004). Family Involvement as a Key: Profiles of Head Start.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The issue of the lack of parental involvement is widespread and evident based on the large number of studies on the topic. Both a survey and personal interviews captured data for this study. Eight parents and two teachers participated in individual interviews. Two hundred and thirty one respondents completed a survey. Parents self-report of their involvement indicated that to a large extent, they are highly involved in their childrens education and they need release time from work to attend school meetings. Very few parents believe teachers are totally responsible for educating children. Interview findings revealed that: (1) parents are critical of themselves as it relates to parental involvement, (2) parents are angered by what teachers say in the presence of their children, (3) parents and educators have diverse definitions of parental involvement and (4) both parents and teachers have a level of understanding of each others difficulties. Lessons learned from this
research point to the need for Family and Consumer Sciences professionals to help educators bridge the gap between families and schools through an understanding of the eco-strengths perspective.
Impacts
This research established a partnership between Pine Bluff and Dollarway Schools in Jefferson County, Arkansas starting in October 2001. In March 2003, the State of Arkansas passed Act 603, an act to require public schools to create a parental involvement plan. In June 2004, a statewide Summer Institute on Parental Involvement will be held to assist school districts to develop their parental involvement plan and to incorporate activities for both children and families
Publications
- Terrell, S. (Submitted, 2003). Ending the debate: Parents Speak About Parental Involvement. Submitted to the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal.
- Prater, L. and Terrell, S. (In Press, 2004). Parental Empowerment and Multicultural Special Education. In (Eds.) Obiakor, F. Multicultural Special Education. Merrill Publications.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
A focus group interview and individual interviews were conducted with parents to ascertain their views about parental involvement. Additional surveys were distributed to parents in the Dollarway School District in Jefferson County, Arkansas. A Parental Involvement Task Force meeting consisting of parents and parent educators in two school districts was convened.
Impacts
Comments from parents revealed that they have an interest in publically expressing their concerns about parental involvement. A Parental Involvement Task Force meeting was convened to discuss problems. The main issue is that working parents do not have time off to attend school meetings. The Task Force will collaborate with a state legislator to assist in developing language to present a legislative bill that will require employers in Arkansas to give parents four to six hours of paid leave per year to attend school meetings. analysis of surveys will be completed by March 2003.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
A survey has been developed based on specific areas from research on parental involvement. Parents in Jefferson County, Arkansas have been randomly selected to participate in the study. Special effort was taken to assure that an equal representation of parents across economic and racial lines were included in the selection process. Likewise, qualitative findings of individual interviews will increase validity of results if parents elect to participate. Data collection begins in February 2002. The research project started in October 2001 and will continue until September 2006.
Impacts
Development of the survey on specific areas in research on parental involvement has been concluded by taking into account low literacy levels of parents in the Delta region. Allowing parents in this region to provide input about parental involvement is of critical importance because many are typically underrepresented in many ways. An agreement with the Pine Bluff School District was established in May 2001 as support for the research proposal. Since then, the District has cooperated by providing a random selection of parents' names and addresses. In October 2001, a seminar for at-risk students at Jack Robey Junior High School, was conducted by the researcher and UAPB students. One topic included discussions about parental involvement.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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