Abstract

In America, children from urban communities come to kindergarten lacking the basic skills in literacy to be successful learners in life (Jumpstart, 2009). Students are unprepared and parents are becoming less knowledgeable of the requirements for early education and diminished confidence in their ability to prepare and assist their children is occurring. Therefore, there is a need to understand the underlying drivers of parents' low self-efficacy and what can be done to support them. The purpose of this case study was to develop an understanding of a means to support parents of early education students enrolled in an urban learning center in the south bay area of Los Angeles, thereby improving parent's self-efficacy to increase parent involvement in their child's education. This study investigated the following research questions: (1) In what ways, if any, might parent self-efficacy be improved to enable parents to effectively assist their child in meeting the requirements for early education? (2) In what ways, if any, might parent involvement be encouraged to help them better assist their child with their education? A qualitative phenomenological single-case study design was used to explore the underlying drivers of parent self-efficacy and the best ways to support parents of early education students enrolled in an urban learning center in the south bay area of Los Angeles. The population consisted of parents of children grades Tk-3rd grade enrolled in an urban learning center in the south bay area of Los Angeles. Data were collected through in-person semi structured interviews. This study found that the underlying drivers of parent's low-efficacy are lack of time, knowledge, and resources. Parents would benefit from resources to support homework, resources to supplement their child's curriculum, and accommodations for working parents from schools.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dissertations (EdD) -- Educational leadership, administration, and policy; Early childhood education -- Parent participation -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Case studies; Education, Elementary -- California -- Los Angeles -- Evaluation; Self-efficacy

Date of Award

2019

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Education

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Brahme, Maria

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