Transcript PRESENTATION TITLE GOES HERE

Count on College
ALearn to Aspire and Achieve
Results of ALearn’s
Parent Survey
Aspire
Inspire
Expect
August 2008
Methodology
Objective
• To understand parents’ experience with MV-LA education and what
they need to engage in their child’s education
• To inform program design for ALearn
Surveys
•
•
•
•
20 questions on paper - based survey
15 closed ended questions, 5 open-ended questions
Convenience sample
98 surveys from middle school/high school parents
− 80% Spanish (78) & 20% English (20)
• 41 surveys from elementary school parents (only)
Location where surveys were distributed
• Churches in Mountain View: St. Athanasius & St. Joseph (Sunday July
13, 2008)
• MAP Program
• Other - surveys were given at other church group gatherings
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
2
ALearn Parent Survey, July 2008
98 final surveys from parents of middle school students
or high school students (reported in full)
− 27% with elementary students, 73% with middle school students,
28% with high school students
− Many Latina/o, many Free-Reduced Lunch families
− 70% have MVWSD students, 33% have MVLA students
− 77% of parents educated in South or Central America, 21% in U.S.
− 40% of parents with 1-8 years of school, 32% have 9-12 years of
school, 13% with some college, 15% college graduates
41 additional surveys of parents of elementary school
students only
− Comments/views captured
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
3
Parents’ Opinions about the Best Thing
about MV Public Schools
38/98 answered (39% response rate)
Believe there’s a high quality of education (9)
• “This district is excellent and very helpful.”
• “Mountain View schools have a high level of education. They teach for
the STAR test.”
• “The variety of classes.”
Like the after school programs (6)
• “That they have after-school programs.”
• “They offer good after school programs”
− i.e. Beyond the Bell
Think school attends to the needs of the students (6)
• “Equal treatment and that they always worry about the students not on
the basis of color or ethnicity.”
• “…I like that there are people that care for my children during recess...”
• “That [teachers] attend to the children well.”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
4
Parents’ Opinion about How MV Public
Schools Could Be Improved
38/98 answered (39% response rate)
Worry about the safety of their child (10)
• “There should be more meetings that talk about gangs and its influence on
youth”
• “…safety of our children.”
• “There is no control of the gangs.”
Need for more communication with teachers/school
administrators (7)
• “Schedule more meetings with parents, teacher, student and be more
transparent with school issues.”
• “That sometimes teachers do not treat the students well.”
• “The lack of personal attention.”
Need for more programs that target the Latina/o
population (6)
• “…they do not put much attention on our Latino children”
• “There should be more programs for kids…with priority to Hispanics.”
• “…programs that will give [Latinas/os] more information about a student's
future.”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
5
Parents’ Ranking of Concerns for their
Children
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "very low" and 10 being "very high," please
rate your level of concern/worry about the following issues for your children
Entrance to a 4-year university
Categories parents rated
Entrance into a community or junior (two-year) college
Graduations from high school
Access to summer programs
Access to after-school programs
Need for extra academic help
School attendance
Grades in school
Quality of education
Use of drugs or alcohol
Very high (9-10)
High (8)
Neutral (6-7)
Low (3-5)
Very low (1-2)
Particpation in gang
Safety
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Response percent
Top 3 concerns: Quality of education (87%), Entrance to a 4-year
university (86%), Graduation from high school (85%)
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
6
Parents’ Understanding of their Child’s
Education
On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is "not at all" and 10 is "very well"...
45
40
Response percent
35
30
Not at all (1-2)
Not well (3-5)
Somewhat (6-7)
Well (8)
Very well (9-10)
25
20
15
10
5
0
How well do you feel you
understand the American
education system?
How well informed are you about How well do you think your child's How well do you understand how
your child's school?
school prepares him/her
your child is evaluated by his/her
academically?
teacher?
Most parents rated highly their level of information about their child’s
school and grading system. However, many are only somewhat
educated on the American education system.
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
7
College Expectation Levels
Parent expectation vs. child awareness of parent expectation of attending college
100
90
Response percent
80
70
60
Parent Expectation
Child awareness of expectation
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes
No
Maybe
Don't Know
Categories parents rated
72% of the parents expect their child to go to college; surprisingly,
88% of the parents said that their child was aware of their
expectation of attending college
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
8
Parents’ Explanation for their Expectation of
their Child going to College
29/34 responses (Explain why you expect/don’t expect your
child to go to college): 85% response rate
More successful/better job/financial independence (11)
•
•
“I don't want our children to be stuck in the low paying jobs one day.”
“I want them to have economic freedom to live where (they) want and feel safe
and my daughters to feel they don't have to depend on any one to be happy. I
want them to travel, meet different customs, I want them to appreciate life.”
Academic focus, desire to succeed (10)
•
•
“College is a priority in my household.”
“Because my son has potential and I will help him to have his dream come
true. Since he was a first grader he (always wanted) to go to (college).”
Unsure (4)
•
•
•
“My children are very reserved.”
“I have a daughter that went to a university … but I have 3 other kids about
which I do not know; maybe, but I see little interest from them.”
“Primarily because of the lack of financial aid.”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Key Barriers to College Expressed by
Parents
What are the key barriers to your child going to college?
90
80
Response percent
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Academic
readiness
Financial aid
Lack of knowledge
about US college
system
Poor grades
Understanding the
application
process
Support from the
teachers/school
administrators
Child's motivation
to go to college
Don't know
Parents perceived the most common barriers to college to be
financial aid (85%), academic readiness (34%) and
understanding the college application process (30%)
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
10
Frequency of Parent Involvement in School
Meetings
How often do parents attend the following types of meetings?
45
40
Response percent
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Meetings with
teachers (formal and
informal)
Meeting with
administrators
Never
Parent Teacher
Association
Rarely
Another parent group
Sometimes
Other meetings at
your child's school
With frequency
Groups at church or School counselors (for
other community
high school students)
locations
With great frequency
Parent involvement in meetings at school and at other community
locations is low (“rarely or never”) to medium (“sometimes”), yet
there are some parents who meet with teachers “with great
frequency”.
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Parent Education Group Involvement is Low
Few parents (14%) are involved in parent education groups.
Involved parents reported the most valuable lessons that they
learned
• Communicating with their children
• Devoting more time to them
• Connecting with teachers
- “I learned that it is very important to attend all the events I can, and to
communicate with teachers, counselors and others.”
• Knowing about programs and resources available
There are barriers to parental Involvement
• Conflict with work schedule
- “Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to attend consistently because I work.”
• Language barrier
- “I do not participate much because I have trouble when I go. English is
difficult for me…”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Type of Information Parents would Want to
Help their Child
What additional type of information would be useful to you to help your
child with his/her education?
90
80
Response percent
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Grading system State and federal Financial aid for Information about Information about Your student's
tests
college
after-school
summer
graduation from
programs
programs
high school
Your student's
entrance into
community
college
Your student's
entrance into a
four-year
university
Other
Parents want more information about financial aid (77%), state &
federal educational tests (62%) and summer programs (61%)
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
13
Further Ideas to Help Your Child Succeed in
School (Open-ended)
35/98 answered: 36% response rate
More help desired from teachers (11 responses)
Better teacher-parent communication (8)
• “…the teachers should expend more energy on the children and their
homework”
• “Need for more help for students who do not fully understand the material.”
• “More info as trimester goes on, not at end”
• “Concern with lack of communication between parents and teachers”
More after-school and summer programs wanted (7)
• “There should be after-school programs and summer programs for high school
students”
More financial aid/career planning information (5)
• “Motivate children to have a profession”
Study groups, more homework help and tutoring
• “More help for students who do not understand material”
• “Teach them with more dedication”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Where Parents Went to School Makes a
Difference
Views of those educated in Mexico, South or Central
America (82%)
• Have lower expectations of children going to college (72%)
• Are more likely to have a 9-12 year education (13% some college)
• Have a higher level of concern about most areas (quality of education,
academic help needed, high school graduation, safety, etc.)
• See more barriers to their children going to college
• Report a higher interaction with schools
− interact with teachers or administrators “sometimes”
− are more informed about child’s school, grading system
Views of those educated in the U.S. (18%)
•
•
•
•
Expect their children to go to college (94%)
Are more likely to have attended college (89% attended, 45% graduated)
Have high concern about quality education (77%)
See financial situation as most significant barrier to college (78%)
– But also barrier: academic readiness/preparation (72%)
• Have very low interaction with schools
– “Rarely” or “never” interact with teachers, administrators, parent group.
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Correlation Between Financial Aid Concerns
and Parent’s Involvement and Education
Parents who said financial aid is a barrier for their child to go to
college
• Low (“sometimes”) participation in school meetings
• Not a member of a parent education group
• Parents want more information about financial aid
Parents who said financial aid is NOT a barrier for their child to go
to college
• Attend meetings with teachers “frequently”
• Attended school for 9-12 years
• Concerned mostly with quality of education and entrance to a 4-year
university
• Understand the American education system (“well”) and are also
(“well”) informed about his/her child’s school
Perhaps parental concerns for financial aid can be alleviated if
parents are more involved with teachers and schools
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Elementary School Parents’ Opinions
Concerns
• Top 3 concerns out of 12 - Entrance to a community college,
After school programs & Financial Aid
Barriers
• 85% said Financial aid was a barrier for their children to attend
college
Views on the strengths of MV Public schools (openended)
• Resources
− “the classes they give are very good”
• Attention to students
− “…ways of teaching to the students”
• Translation available
− “…there is always someone who speaks Spanish”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Elementary School Parents’ Opinions
Desired improvements for MV Public schools (open-ended)
• Safety for children
− “There is no control of the gangs”
• Food
• Provide more programs for kids with special needs
− “That they do not provide more help for kids with special needs”
Parent Involvement (open-ended)
• Understand that “greater parent participation means greater academic
success” but cannot attend meetings because of work schedule
Other ideas about how children can succeed in school (openended)
• Further improve teaching
− “Much more help on the part of the teachers”
• Attend to the needs of children with special needs more
− “That we give more help for the kids with special needs”
• Provide info to improve parent involvement in students’ education
− “I would like to know about her learning capability and how to help with
learning”
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Summary of Results
Parents’ concerns
• Closed-ended: Top 3 concerns out of 12 were quality of
education, entrance to a 4-year university, graduation from high
school
• Open-ended: safety, communication with teacher/school
administrators, programs that target the Latina/o population
High expectations for college but low parent involvement
• Possible that parents don’t see link between expecting their
child to go to college and need to be involved in school
Type of information schools need to give parents
• Financial Aid (85%)
• Academic Readiness (34%)
• Understanding the college application process (30%)
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Summary of Results
College is crucial
• Top concerns of parents out of 12 concerns, “entrance to a 4-year
university” was one of the highest
• See the advantages to a college education
• Career/higher paying jobs
• Expand horizons & independence
Parents want help in a number of areas:
• From closed-ended questions
− More information about financial aid (77%)
− State & federal tests (62%)
− Summer programs (61%)
• From open-ended responses
−
−
−
−
Better teacher-parent communication
More after school/summer programs wanted
More financial aid/career planning information
More programs for Latina/o students
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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Summary of Results
Parents need to be proactive too
• Meet with teachers
• Attend PTA meetings or other community group meetings
• Learn about financial aid to alleviate concerns about how to
afford college
Parents education is important
• Parents will be able to support their child better in applying to
college
Additional support to parents from C. or S. America
• Need information about financial aid for college, even if their
children are undocumented
• More information about the U.S education system and how it
works
©2008 ALearn. All rights reserved.
Parent Survey Results
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