Page 50 - PROGRAM IMPACT AND SATIFACTION AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF HEAD START PARENTS
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Five parents made suggestions regarding a full-day program or longer hours. One parent wrote, “The program is really good for the kids to get a good start in education. I would like longer hours, like 6 hour days.” Another parent recommended a longer program with more time spent on academics, while another suggested more hours of class time for four year olds.
Two parents suggested that the Reseda Head Start Center invest in security cameras and safety policies to secure the main gate. One of the parents wrote, “Better sense of security for main gate, cameras and better earthquake evacuation plan.”
Other suggestions for improvement include:
Kids should drink more water than milk
Correct time and dates for events and ceremonies should be provided to parents
See Figure 10 in the Appendix for a select list of comments from parents at Reseda.
Roscoe Canyon
Of 38 parents from Roscoe Canyon, 84.2% provided a response describing ways staff can improve the Head Start program. Fifteen parents (46.9%) wrote that they either had no comment or enjoyed the program so much that they did not have any suggestions. One parent wrote, “I think the Head Start program is providing a great education to the students. My child has learned a lot during the two years she has attended Roscoe Canyon.”
Five parents wrote comments related to parent engagement, asking staff to be in more frequent contact with them or provide more programs to help parents. One parent highlighted the need to engage parents in meetings and wrote, “Create a standard so that parents become involved in the education of their children so that they will at least attend the meetings for parents.” Two parents mentioned that holding meetings during a different time and day could help parents participate.
Three parents suggested changes to the curriculum to include more lessons on numbers, letters, colors, and names and last names. Another parent underscored the need for parents to be informed about policies regarding the celebration of holidays and stated, “We don't like that they don't celebrate holidays or birthdays.”
Three parents wrote comments related to language. Parents indicated a need for staff to communicate in different languages and provided the following statements:
Have languages that I can understand
Communicate with parents who do not speak Spanish
Communicate more in English than any other language
A parent suggested that, if the program’s budget allows, children eat organic foods. Another parent recommended that the staff and teachers should remain in the same classrooms. Figure 11 in the Appendix presents select comments written by parents from the Roscoe Canyon Head Start Center.
CCRC’s Head Start Parents Page | 47 December 2014
