Document Type

Report

Publication Date

1-2017

Subjects

Readiness for school -- Oregon, Kindergarten -- Oregon, Kindergarten -- Parent participation -- Surveys, Early childhood education

Abstract

During the summer and fall of 2016, children and families in 16 schools in Lane County participated in the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) Program. KITS includes 16 weeks of group-based child classes and 12 weeks of parenting workshops, using an evidence-based curriculum designed to improve school readiness skills and parenting. To learn more about the KITS program from the perspective of participating families, four focus groups were held with parents who participated in KITS. A total of 44 parents participated in the groups, which were located in four different schools (two small, rural locations and two larger more urban school districts). Focus groups were conducted in English, and 3 Spanish-speaking parents participated in 2 of the groups. Translation was provided for Spanish speaking parents who participated. Groups were facilitated by members of the KITS evaluation team from the Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services at Portland State University. Participants reported mixed experiences prior to KITS in terms of children’s experience with preschool, with about half reporting that their child had been to preschool and about half indicating no prior group-based experiences. Focus group questions were designed to learn more about families’ experience with the KITS program (e.g., the enrollment process, attendance supports, etc.), about the benefits of the program for parents and children, and about any challenges encountered with the program.

Focus group questions were designed to learn more about families’ experience with the KITS program (e.g., the enrollment process, attendance supports, etc.), about the benefits of the program for parents and children, and about any challenges encountered with the program. Focus group discussions were transcribed and analyzed by the senior researcher to identify key themes. These themes and findings were then reviewed by the other team members and by the focus group facilitators to confirm and clarify findings.

Description

This is the "Listening to Parents about the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) Program: Results from Parent Focus Groups" report, from the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) project.

The "KITS School Highlights: Summer 2016" and "KITS Teacher & Facilitator Survey Results: Summer 2016 " reports are included here as supplemental files.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/21163

KITS Evaluation 2-pager_2016_FINAL_1-18-17_RJ.pdf (410 kB)
KITS School Highlights: Summer 2016

KITS Teacher&Facilitator survey_brief summary_FINAL.pdf (212 kB)
KITS Teacher & Facilitator Survey Results: Summer 2016

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