ERIC Number: EJ1194114
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2332-8584
EISSN: N/A
A New Approach to Defining and Measuring Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education Programs
Sabol, Terri J.; Sommer, Teresa Eckrich; Sanchez, Amy; Busby, Andrea Kinghorn
AERA Open, v4 n3 Jul-Sep 2018
Almost every state-level Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) in the country includes family engagement as an indicator of early childhood education quality. Yet, most QRIS measure family engagement using a uniform, narrow set of parent involvement activities at the center. We propose an alternative approach that emphasizes a range of direct services for parents, including: (1) parenting classes, (2) family support services, (3) social capital activities, and (4) human capital services. In our proposed rating systems, states would assess how well centers address the highest ranked needs of families and employ evidence-based practices across one or more of the center-selected direct parent service categories. We explore the feasibility of this approach through a qualitative study (n = 14 centers) and case examples. We discuss how this new rating system could be used to monitor quality and as a tool for program improvement to support child development.
Descriptors: Educational Quality, Early Childhood Education, Quality Control, Educational Improvement, Family Involvement, Parent Education, Family Programs, Social Capital, Human Capital, Program Effectiveness, Evidence Based Practice, Early Intervention, Urban Schools, Immigrants
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A