Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1979

Thesis Director

Donald W. Smitley

Abstract

This paper is primarily a description of a daytime parent visitation program conducted at Stephen Decatur High School, Decatur, Illinois for parents of students new to the school. A traditional night time parent visitation program is described in less detail.

The daytime parent visitation was held over the lunch hour so parents could eat in the school cafeteria at the same time and the same food their children were eating.

The paper also details other activities of the program such as: a slide presentation, a tour of the building, an explanation of the course selection process and a question and answer session.

Emphasis was placed on encouraging minority parents to attend the visitation because the school had had very limited participation by minority parents in other activities. By using the services of a community worker the school was able to get the same percentage of minority parents to attend the visitation as white parents.

Approximately 20 to 25% of the parents who were invited attended the visitations. Some reasons for not having a higher percentage of the parents in attendance are given.

The parents were asked to evaluate the program and the results of the parent evaluation are presented. The parents were extremely supportive of the program. They indicated strong approval of the cafeteria food both in terms of quality and appropriateness.

Five recommendations are made but these three appear to be the most important:

  1. The new student parent visitation should be continued on a yearly basis.
  2. When parents are being taken on a tour of the building, the counselors should be used as tour guides.
  3. School administrators who are looking for ways to improve their school's image should strongly consider implementing the daytime program.

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