Benefits reported by parents registered at the Fort Wayne Community School Title I Parent Resource Center from January 1980 through June 1980

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine attitudes of parents toward the Fort Wayne Community School Title I Parent Resource Center. Specifically, the study was designed to measure the quality of services extended during the first six months of Resource Center operation, January 1980 through June 1980.Literature regarding the role of parents in educational programs at both the national and state level was reviewed. Through study of the-literature, limited data were reported involving parents in program evaluation. Therefore, a study was undertaken to address parent attitudes toward program effectiveness.From a sample population of one hundred parents of children enrolled in the 1979-1980 Fort Wayne Community School Title I Project, ninety-five parents completed questionnaires delivered to homes by Title I Liaison Aides. Five parents were not available for contact during the two-day questionnaire delivery period. Completed questionnaires were placed in unmarked envelopes for return by the aides to the Parent Resource Center. Questionnaires were then delivered to the Fort Wayne Community School Computer Center for key punching and computer scoring.Responses to "yes" and "no" questionnaire items were reported in percentages addressing attitudes toward (1) Parent Resource Center location and visitation hours, (2) delivery of services and materials, (3) workshop presentations and (4) advertising techniques. Written comments expressed in two open ended questionnaire items were analyzed. Perceived benefits and need for program change were reported in narrative form.Parent attitudes toward Resource Center services revealed:1. Parent Resource Center location and visitation hours were satisfactory as reported by more than 80 percent of the respondents. However, among written comments, parents recommended decentralized or school-based centers and evening or weekend visitation hours.2. Service extended by the Parent Resource Center Staff was regarded as helpful by 94.7 percent of those queried and materials to be used in the home were clearly understood by 100 percent of the respondents.3. Workshops held at the Parent Resource Center were attended by 68.4 percent of the respondents. Further, 65 percent of Center clients attending workshops reported value in presentations and appropriateness of materials for use in the home.4. Among advertising techniques employed, parents ranked the Title I meeting as the primary information source. School newsletters, news paper articles, church announcements andparent-school personnel sharing were less frequently cited sources of information.Services extended at the Parent Resource Center had benefited children in the improvement of reading and math skills, in strengthened parent-child relationships and in provision of unaffordable educational materials.