ERIC Number: ED574743
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 30
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The i3 "We Are a Village" Grant: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned about Supporting Family Engagement in Early Childhood. Final Evaluation Summary
Geller, Joanna D.; López, Ruth M.; Alcantara, Vianna; Catone, Keith C.; Tung, Rosann
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
In January 2013, Rhode Island's Central Falls School District (CFSD) was awarded a $3 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant, named "We Are A Village," focused on developing an early childhood education culture (from pre-K to grade 3) where families would feel welcome, valued, and respected; connected to their peers, schools, and communities; and able to support their children socially, emotionally, and academically. Children's Friend, a local social service agency, and Bradley Children's Hospital partnered with CFSD on the grant. Through the grant, Children's Friend hired five bilingual i3 collaborators who were each assigned to engage with parents and families in one of the five participating Central Falls schools. "We Are A Village" activities fell into four major areas: (1) creating family-friendly schools; (2) building parent leadership; (3) supporting families; and (4) supporting teachers and staff. The evaluation covered school years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, and focused on the following questions: (1) To what extent was the i3 grant implemented as intended? What conditions facilitated or hindered implementation?; (2) Do parents feel more welcome, valued, and respected at their children's schools and have improved connections and involvement with their peers and community? What conditions facilitated or hindered improvement?; (3) Are parents and teachers more capable of supporting children socially and academically? What conditions facilitated or hindered improvement?; and (4) Do students have improved behavior and attendance? Researchers used a mixed-methods approach, which combined qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, and observations) with quantitative research (student assessments and surveys). The activities of the i3 "We Are A Village" grant led to positive changes for families, students, teachers, and the community. This summary describes the Central Falls context, the theoretical frameworks that guided the evaluation, a summary of findings, and recommendations for the future. The following are appended: (1) Student Outcome Tables; (2) Teacher Outcome Tables; and (3) Considerations for Cross-Sector Partnerships When Implementing New Family Engagement Initiatives.
Descriptors: Grants, Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Educational Environment, School Culture, Agency Cooperation, Bilingualism, Family Involvement, Family School Relationship, Leadership Training, Parent Participation, Family Programs, Teachers, School Personnel, Program Effectiveness, Tables (Data), Staff Development, Interviews, Focus Groups, Observation, Surveys, Pretests Posttests
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: AISR_Info@brown.edu; Web site: http://www.annenberginstitute.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Department of Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Identifiers - Location: Rhode Island
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A