Research has indicated that effective parenting programs for pregnant and parenting teens greatly improve educational and career opportunities for teen parents. Such research underscores the need for schools to use these programs in their efforts to increase high school graduation rates for this population. The aim of this case study was to assess if a school-based parenting program was successful and, if so, how elements of this program might be useful to educators who are planning similar programs. The study included an examination of archived program data, which included end-of-year reports related to the program and participants, and interviews with 12 key program administrators and teachers. Outcome evaluation theory and a logic model served as the conceptual framework. The research design had 2 parts: a quantitative secondary analysis of archived data and qualitative interviews. The program data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The interview data were downloaded into a computer-assisted qualitative software program to organize the data, code the data, and to determine major themes. Major findings were that the program met goals and objectives due to: (a) clearly stated and specific program objectives;(b) a high level of program support from district and administrative staff; (c) a major asset of the program, its curriculum; (d) adequate resources and funding, and (e) the active participation of, and open communication between, parents/guardians of program participants, faculty, and staff. This study contributes to social change by showing educators and parents that an effective school-base parenting program can result in improved high school completion and brighter outcomes for pregnant and parenting students.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:waldenu.edu/oai:scholarworks.waldenu.edu:dissertations-1515 |
| Date | 01 January 2015 |
| Creators | Glynn, Angela Lynn |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks |
| Source Sets | Walden University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies |
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