aahhe presentation

Parental Perceptions of

Higher EducationDr. Dawn Person Mauro Ivan Peña Michelle CuellarAntonio Banks

What is GEAR UP?

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a U.S. Department of Education grant designed to increase the number of students who prepare to enter and succeed in college. GEAR UP-Anaheim is funded to follow a cohort of 2800 students from Anaheim, Katella and Loara High Schools until their expected graduation in 2014.

Gaining Early Awareness Readiness for Undergraduate

Programs

Cohort Demographics

85% of all students are on Free and Reduced Lunch49% of all students are English Learners82% of dropouts are Latino/as 89% of graduates at the do not complete A-G8% of graduates submitted a final transcript to a 4-Year College

--- Source: AUHSD and California Department of Education.

GEAR UP’s early college awareness and preparation program for parents sought out to provide the tools parents need to help motivate their child toward academic success and realize the value of a college education.

The program was designed to strengthen the parent support network in order to better assist their child’s transition into the ninth grade, which is a critical period in a student’s academic career.

This smaller group of parents would be trained to then go out and help GEAR UP build a stronger, more informed and cohesive group of parents.

Parent Component

Workshop 1- Introduction to College Awareness

Workshop 2- Why College is Important

Workshop 3- Exploring Careers

Workshop 4- Parent Fieldtrip to California State University, Fullerton

Workshop 5- Parent Advocacy Training

Workshop 6- Communication with Your Child

GEAR UP Longitudinal Study

Study design

Emerging Themes from Parent Interviews

THIS SLIDE IS IN PROGRESS

Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree

23.7

42.4

11.910.2

11.9

58.3

40

1.70 0

Strong Sense of Community

Pre (n=59) Post (n=60)

“I get involved completely and reach out to more parents and talk to other parents and invite them to come …,ideally [this] group of parents that get together to learn and gain knowledge and know that this group exists…”


62.1

4.50 1.5

31.8

95.1

3.30 0 1.6

Wanting Their Child to Attend College


“…GEAR UP has taught us to always be there for our children, and push them and say “ we are going to the university”.


45.5

16.7

6.19.1

22.7

61.7

35

1.7 0 1.7

Belief That Their Child will Attend CollegePre (n=66) Post (n=60)

“I believe that he does have [barriers] to overcome in his education. He allows himself to be guided when he is in the [GEAR UP] programs because he sees some sort of motivation, and it pushes him so that he can have more drive. “


13.8

30.8

26.2

16.9

12.3

30

55

11.7

3.30

Identified Solutions to Barriers

Pre Post (n=60)


31.8

21.2 19.7

4.5

22.7

59

39.3

1.6 0 0

Knowledge of A-G Requirements

Pre (n=66) Post (n= 60)

“I have participated in the parent workshops, where they gave information on the necessary classes you have to register for and what is necessary to get, for example, if my kid wants to be a doctor what is needed. Any information like that [such as] A-G requirements. “


19.4

37.3

13.410.4

19.4

39.3

49.2

11.5

0 0

Strength of Communication

Pre (n=67) Post(n=61)

“I also think having a good relationship with me and her father [is]what[helps us] functions the best … when she needs something I am attentive to her, I stop what I am doing and she tells me what is going on and vents to me. Then I feel that she is more relaxed and walks away and does her homework. “


20.9

32.8

20.9

7.5

17.9

42.6

45.9

11.5

0 0

Strength of Parenting Skills


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