This study seeks to examine low income, minority parents' perceptions of after school programs. The independent variables in the study were parental perceptions of supervision, communication, resources, transportation, program content and student academic engagement. The dependent variable was parental satisfaction with after school programs. A quantitative survey was distributed to all parents of students participating in the after school programs of four Title 1 schools in a large metropolitan Atlanta school system with over 70% student eligibility for free or reduced lunch and 85% minority student enrollment. One hundred eighty after school program parents responded to the survey through their child's daily communication planner. The results of the study indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between parental satisfaction and each of the independent variables of supervision, communication, resources, transportation, program content and student academic engagement. A regression analysis found that the most impacting variables on parental satisfaction were program content, communication and transportation. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that after school programs that serve low income, minority families should ensure that transportation, effective student monitoring and structured activities are components of their program. After school programs that serve low income, minority families should provide safe methods of transportation from the after school site to the home of program participants. Finally, after school programs that serve low income, minority families should establish and maintain structured learning opportunities for program participants that include scheduled activities, active instruction and assistance by the after school teacher and an orderly classroom environment that allows participants to complete their assignments without distractions or interruptions from other participants.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:auctr.edu/oai:digitalcommons.auctr.edu:dissertations-4700 |
| Date | 01 May 2006 |
| Creators | Parker, Chandra |
| Publisher | DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center |
| Source Sets | Atlanta University Center |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | ETD Collection for AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library |
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