Ramsey Action Programs
Head Start
Survey of Head Start parents
FEBRUARY 2000
Ramsey Action Programs Head Start
Survey of Head Start parents
February 2000
Prepared by:
Pamela Larson, Research Scientist
Wilder Research Center
1295 Bandana Boulevard North, Suite 210
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55018
651-647-4600
www.wilder.org
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
Figures
1. Parent Satisfaction ..................................................................................................... 2
2. Reading and Kindergarten Preparation...................................................................... 3
3. Parent Involvement in Classroom.............................................................................. 4
4. Parent Involvement Outside Classroom..................................................................... 4
5. Circumstances Affecting Involvement ...................................................................... 4
6. Working Adults in Household................................................................................... 5
7. Adults in School or Job Training in Household......................................................... 5
8. Family Ability to do Well.......................................................................................... 5
9. Impact of Recent Welfare Changes – Positive .......................................................... 6
10. Impact of Recent Welfare Changes – Negative......................................................... 6
11. Personal Gains From Head Start Participation .......................................................... 7
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
Acknowledgments
The following Wilder Research Center staff worked on this project: Shannon
Brumbaugh, Joshua Carroll, Zavier Chang, Marilyn Conrad, Phil Cooper, Kristine
Danzinger, Louann Graham, Michelle Haegle, Bryan Lloyd, Marta Murray-Close,
Marion Namewirth, Stephanie Nelson, Jim Richardson, Wendy Sedlak, Linda Stork, Dan
Swanson, Chou Thor, Karen Ulstad, Mee Xiong, Trudy Yang, and Xue Yang.
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Introduction
Ramsey Action Program, Inc. has been providing Head Start Services for three to five
year old children and their families in Ramsey County for over 30 years. It currently
serves 1,214 children and their families in its half-day program and is funded to serve 287
children in its full-day initiative with childcare centers in Ramsey County. The mission
of Ramsey Action Program Head Start is “To partner with Head Start eligible families in
Ramsey County and community supporters to provide comprehensive early childhood
and family development services that help children and their parents reach their full
potential.”
Ramsey Action Program, Inc. (RAP) Head Start contracted with the Wilder Research
Center to survey a representative sample of parents who were enrolled in the half-day
Head Start programs during the 1998/99 program year. The purpose of the survey is to
learn about parents’ perspectives regarding key program efforts, satisfaction with the
program, family strengths, and the impact of recent welfare changes. Program staff
determined that this information was needed in order to improve and develop the
program to meet families’ needs.
Methods
Ramsey Action Program, Inc. provided a list sample of 1,045 parents who were enrolled
in the 1998/99 half-day RAP Head Start programs and whose child attended RAP Head
Start for five months or more during the program year. The 25-item survey was
translated, and interviews were conducted in Hmong and Spanish, as needed. The phone
interviews were conducted from November, 1999 to January, 2000 with a representative
sample of half-day Head Start parents. The confidence interval for these results is within
(plus or minus) 5 percentage points.
Results
Two hundred ninety-eight parents completed the survey, with an overall response rate of
67 percent. The response rate includes parents in the sample (25% of the total sampled)
who could not be reached due to unlisted phone numbers, disconnected phones, or were
unreachable for some other reason. The results are organized into six areas; parent
satisfaction with key program elements, impact of Head Start, adult working and school
status, family strengths, impact of welfare changes, and personal family gains/other
suggestions.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Parent satisfaction with key program elements
1. PARENT SATISFACTION
(N=298)
Parent satisfaction with….
Very
Satisfied
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
or Very
Dissatisfied
How staff acted toward parent when parent
had a question or concern.
46% 53% 1%
The hours that their center was open. 40% 56% 4%
The ability of the advocate to do his/her job. 45% 52% 3%
The ability of the teacher to do his/her job. 55% 42% 3%
The ability of the bus driver to do his/her job. 51% 42% 7%
How well written materials met parent’s
language needs.
50% 48% 2%
How well verbal information was
communicated in parent’s language.
48% 48% 4%
The information provided by staff regarding
child and community resources.
49% 49% 3%*
The ability of Head Start to meet special
needs of children with special needs
diagnoses. (N=36)
61% 33% 6%
* Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding.
Satisfaction levels reported by parents in the sample were high, with over 90 percent of
parents reporting that they were very satisfied or satisfied with the key program areas.
The program area with the highest satisfaction rating is teachers’ job performance, with
over half (55%) of parents reporting being very satisfied with the ability of the teacher to
teach and work with children. The satisfaction of the job performance of bus drivers
varies the most, with many parents rating satisfaction with bus driver’s ability to drive
safely and handle young children on the bus as high (51% very satisfied), and a few
parents rating satisfaction as low (7% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied).
A smaller group of parents, those with children who were diagnosed with special needs,
were asked to rate their satisfaction with Head Start programs’ ability to meet their
child’s special needs. Of the 36 parents who responded, nearly two-thirds were very
satisfied, one-third was satisfied, and 6 percent were dissatisfied/very dissatisfied.
Impact of Head Start
RAP Head Start teachers sent books home with children every week to stimulate
reading/looking at books in families. Nearly all parents (98%) were aware that their child
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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brought books home. Nearly all parents (98%) looked at the books at least once a week
with their child. Nearly three-quarters of parents (74%) reported that participating in
Head Start last year (1998-1999) helped “a lot” in getting their child ready for
kindergarten. Attachment A lists the comments parents made related to kindergarten
preparation.
2. READING AND KINDERGARTEN PREPARATION
(N=298)
Parents whose child brought home books: 98%
1+/Week 1/Week 1-3/mth
Less
than
1/mth
Frequency of parent looking at Head Start
books with child.
72% 26% 1% 1%
A Lot Some A Little Not at All
Did Head Start prepare your child for
kindergarten?
74% 20% 6% 1%
Over half of parents were involved in the classroom and slightly more (65%) were
involved in non-classroom activities. Attachment B provides a listing of all the types of
involvement reported by parents who participated in the survey. Parents who reported
that they were involved in the Head Start classroom were primarily involved in field trips
(48% of those involved) and/or helping in the classroom (25% of those involved). Some
of the types of involvement reported fall into the category of “outside the classroom”
involvement, such as policy counsel involvement.
Parents who reported that they were not involved in the classroom listed working (41%),
having other children at home (26%), having no extra time (11%), and being in school
(8%) as the primary reasons for not being involved. Parents who were not involved in
Head Start non-classroom activities reported that working (35%), having other children at
home (24%), having no extra time (14%), and being in school (10%) were the primary
reasons for not being involved. Attachment C provides a complete listing of reasons
given for lack of involvement.
Parents were also given a list of possible circumstances that may have kept them from
being as involved as they would have liked to be. Figure 5 lists these reasons and the
degree to which all of the parents surveyed rated the impact of each circumstance. The
demands of work and school kept over half (58%) of parents surveyed from being as
involved as they would have liked to be. Over one-third (36%) of parents surveyed
reported that general stress in their life kept them from involvement.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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3. PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN CLASSROOM
(N=298)
Parents who were involved in the classroom: 55%
1+/Week 1/Week 1-3/mth
Less
than
1/mth
Not
Involved
Rate of involvement in classroom 5% 4% 23% 24% 45%
4. PARENT INVOLVEMENT OUTSIDE CLASSROOM
(N=296)
Parents who were involved outside classroom: 65%
4+/mth 1-3/mth
Less
than 1
per
Month
Not
Involved
Rate of involvement across activities 8% 31% 27% 34%
5. CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING INVOLVEMENT
(N=298)
A Lot Some A Little
No/Not
at All
Total
Demands of work or school (N=298) 43% 14% 6% 36% 100%
Too much stress in parent’s life
(N=298)
22% 14% 4% 60% 100%
Moving to new house/apartment
(N=298)
5% 3% 2% 90% 100%
Not knowing where family will live
day-to-day (N=298)
3% 2% - 95% 100%
Adult working and school status
Nearly three-quarters of all parents surveyed report that there was at least one adult
working full time or part time in the household. Sixty five percent of these households
had one adult working full time. Nearly one-quarter of all parents surveyed report that
there was at least one adult in school or job training fulltime or part time. Over one-half
(58%) of these households had one adult in school or job training part time and over half
(51%) had one adult in school or job training full time.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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6. WORKING ADULTS IN HOUSEHOLD
(N=298)
Households with any adults working: 72%
Number of Adults (N=215) 0 1 2 3 Total
Full Time 13% 65% 21% 1% 100%
Part Time only 74% 24% 2% - 100%
7. ADULTS IN SCHOOL OR JOB TRAINING IN HOUSEHOLD
(N=297)
Household with any adults in school: 23%
Number of Adults (N=69) 0 1 2 Total
Full Time 45% 51% 4% 100%
Part Time only 38% 58% 4% 100%
Family strengths
Nearly three-quarters of parents surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that their families do
well in knowing where to find resources (services like housing and food, general needs,
mental health services). Conversely, just over one-quarter of parents did not agree that
their family had the ability to do well in finding/obtaining each of the resources listed.
8. FAMILY ABILITY TO DO WELL
(N=298)
Strongly
Agree
Agree Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
We know where to go for services. 26% 47% 13% 14%
We know how to ask for and make sure we get
what we need.
28% 44% 12% 16%
We know how to find and receive any needed
mental health services.
30% 42% 9% 20%
Impact of recent welfare changes on family
Nearly one-quarter of parents surveyed reported that their family does not receive welfare
assistance. Those families who received welfare assistance were asked to comment on
both the good and difficult aspects of recent welfare rule changes. The most frequently
made comments are listed in Figures 9 and 10. Of the parents who receive welfare
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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assistance, nearly one-third (31%) report no change or nothing positive as a result of the
rule changes. The most positive change noted was additional help with childcare. The
most negative change noted was the inadequacy of money provided and resulting
financial struggles. Attachments D and E contain a complete listing of positive and
negative changes.
9. IMPACT OF RECENT WELFARE CHANGES – POSITIVE
(N=298)
No positive change 31%
Help with child care 6%
Don’t know 6%
Job readiness-help preparing 4%
Generally helpful 4%
Increased independence 4%
Don’t receive welfare assistance 22%
10. IMPACT OF RECENT WELFARE CHANGES – NEGATIVE
(N=298)
No negative change 21%
Financial struggles – not enough money 6%
Don’t know 6%
Lack of child care that is affordable, reliable 5%
Forced to work 5%
Language barriers 5%
Hard to find decent job 5%
Increased stress 4%
Personal gains from program and comments.
Nearly one-quarter of parents surveyed were unable to identify personal gains from Head
Start participation, for either their children or themselves. Gains that were reported for
parents include increased knowledge (11%), improved parenting skills (9%), better
relationship with child (4%), and personal enjoyment (4%). Parents see children gaining
comfort with kindergarten (10%), and getting encouragement to learn (7%). A complete
listing of gains is in Attachment F. General comments about Head Start can be found in
Attachment G.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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11. PERSONAL GAINS FROM HEAD START PARTICIPATION
(N=298)
No gains reported 23%
Knowledge, information, referrals 11%
Child is more comfortable about kindergarten 10%
Parent improved parenting skills 9%
Child was encouraged to learn 7%
Parent has better relationship with child 4%
Personal enjoyment for parent 4%
Lessons learned
Parents gave high satisfaction ratings to each of the key program components listed in the
survey. Parent feedback also provides evidence that two goals of RAP Head Start –
kindergarten preparation and increasing reading at home – are being addressed. Nearly
all parents believe their children are more prepared for kindergarten, and nearly all used
the Head Start books at least weekly with their children.
Another goal for RAP Head Start, parent involvement, has room for improvement. While
more parents are involved in Head Start than not, there remains a substantial portion of
parents that do not get involved. Obstacles to involvement, such as work, other children,
and busy lives, present programming challenges if more parents are to be involved.
Adults in Head Start families tend to work outside the home or go to school. In addition,
just over three-quarters of Head Start families receive welfare assistance. When asked to
provide their perspectives on welfare rule changes (both positive and negative), the most
frequent response given by parents was that there
are no positive or negative changes for
parents and families. These results warrant further explanation.
The results also indicate that most parents agree that their families have strengths in key
areas. Families know where to go for services (73%), they know how to get what the
family needs (72%), and they know how to get mental health services (72%) when
needed. These strengths, reported after a year of Head Start enrollment, are important
indicators of parents and children moving toward their full potential. Continued
strategies to increase parental involvement and to reach parents who don’t feel that they
“know where to go” to find resources can be tracked with future parent surveys.
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachments
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment A
Comments regarding kindergarten preparation.
Positive
% of Total
Responses
(N=540)
% Total
Sample
(N=298)
Peer interaction, socialization 11% 20%*
Learn ABC’s 11% 20%
General learning 10% 19%
Learn colors 9% 16%
Prepares child in general 8% 15%
Learn English 7% 13%
Learn to write 6% 11%
Learn numbers, counting 6% 11%
Child likes school now 3% 6%
Child’s listening improved 3% 5%
Child improving verbal communication 3% 5%
Other (e.g., matured, learn to ride bus, toileting, gets
attention, play alone, tell time, creativity, singing)
9% 19%
Negative
Not much learned 2% 4%
Too much play 2% 4%
Other (more organization, language barrier) 2% 4%
Other
Teachers do a good job, parent observes progress 6% 11%
* Total percentages exceed 100% due to multiple responses per parent.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment B
If you were involved, how were you involved?
Parent involvement in classroom
% of Total
Responses
(N=265)
% Total
Sample*
(N=165)
Field trips 48% 78%**
In classroom, unspecified 25% 39%
Meetings 5% 8%
Food preparation, serving 5% 7%
Parent meetings 5% 7%
Volunteer, unspecified 4% 6%
Helping with art 3% 6%
Helping with reading 2% 3%
Other (helped on bus, policy council, family night,
library aide)
4% 7%
* Those who reported classroom involvement.
** Total percentages exceed 100% due to multiple responses per parent.
Ramsey Action Programs Wilder Research Center
Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment C
If not involved, why not?
Reasons for lack of parent involvement in classroom
% of Total
Responses
(N=157)
% Total
Sample
(N=135)
Working 41% 47%*
Have other children at home 26% 30%
No time 11% 13%
Parent in school 8% 10%
Significant other involved 3% 4%
Poor health 3% 4%
No transportation 3% 3%
Other reasons (don’t speak English, disabled/caring
for disabled partner, lack of notice/information, foster
parent, want child to be there without parent present,
no reason)
6% 5%
Reasons for lack of parent involvement outside
classroom
(N=131) (N=102)
Working 35% 45%
Have other children at home 24% 30%
No time 14% 18%
Parent in school 10% 13%
Lack of interest 5% 7%
Poor health 3% 4%
No transportation 2% 2%
Disabled/caring for disabled partner 2% 2%
Lack of notice/information 2% 2%
Other reasons (e.g., don’t speak English, want child to
be there without parent present, foster parent)
5% 5%
* Total percentages exceed 100% due to multiple responses per parent.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment D
Positive changes due to welfare rule changes
% of Total
Responses
(N=321)
% Total
Sample
(N=294)
Not applicable – not on welfare 24% 26%*
Nothing 21% 23%
No effect on family/no change 10% 11%
Help with child care 6% 7%
Don’t know 6% 6%
Help finding job 4% 4%
Helped in general 4% 4%
Increased independence 4% 4%
Help paying for child care 3% 3%
Motivation/encouragement 3% 3%
Food/food stamps 3% 3%
Increased income 2% 2%
Able to work due to increased help 2% 2%
Able to go to school/finish education 2% 2%
Medical assistance/health insurance/medical bills 2% 2%
Got off welfare 2% 2%
Other changes (e.g., job readiness, job retention,
specific job training, budgeting assistance, got
housing/help with rent, help finding child care,
stabilize family/“get back on feet”/back up support,
help me spend time with my children, being with
others (adults) in same situation, emergency cash
assistance, less stressful, have not used/taken
advantage of any changes)
6% 7%
* Total percentages exceed 100% due to multiple responses per parent.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment E
Difficulties due to welfare role changes
% of Total
Responses
(N=380)
% Total
Sample
(N=298)
Nothing 17% 21%*
Not on welfare 16% 20%
Don’t give enough money 6% 7%
Don’t know 6% 7%
No effect on family 6% 7%
Forced to work/look for work despite reasons not to 5% 7%
Lack of child care 5% 7%
Language barrier 5% 7%
Hard to find decent job 5% 7%
Unfair rules 4% 5%
Increased stress 4% 5%
Loss/decrease in healthcare 3% 4%
Lack of education 3% 4%
Can’t stay at home to care for child(ren) 3% 4%
Transportation problems 2% 2%
Other difficulties (e.g., worker lacks knowledge/skills,
too much paperwork, too complicated, rules are
confusing or unclear, increase in one benefit causes
decrease, income guidelines too high, housing
problem, lost assistance/reduced benefits, income
fluctuates too much to plan, disability, need budgeting
skills, worried about lack of safety net, single parent,
make transition slowly, job search requirements are
difficult, concern about time limit)
12% 14%
* Total percentages exceed 100% due to multiple responses per parent.
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment F
Personal gains from Head Start participation
Nothing
16%
Knowledge, info, referrals, unspecified
11%
Comfortable about kindergarten
10%
Don’t know
9%
Parenting skills
9%
Encourage child to learn
7%
Nothing, since did not participate in activities
7%
Better relationship with child
4%
Personal enjoyment
4%
More involved in child’s education
3%
Improved communication skills
3%
Gained confidence as a parent
2%
Time alone
2%
Other (e.g., Head Start helps me get services, learn how to navigate
social services, interest in own heritage, realized need to spend more
time with child, how to keep child’s confidence up, how to make a
child-safe home, learned to be patient with child/to be role model, age
appropriate development, nutrition information, can borrow books and
toys, desire to help, meeting other parents, seeing child interact/learn,
meeting teachers (school staff), learned to be teacher’s aide, learned
English, got a job, community involvement, don’t have to pay for day
care)
16%
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Attachment G
General comments
Good program, helped
30%
Have it all day
11%
Good teachers
4%
No/higher income eligibility
4%
Keep the program
3%
Better writing preparation
3%
Better written communication from program
3%
More focus on education (less play)
2%
Better teachers
2%
Have training for parent teachers in the evening
2%
Need translator
2%
Poor bus driver (played loud music, forgot children on bus)
2%
Need more transportation for children
2%
Different start time (earlier, later)
1%
Start at earlier age
1%
More openings for children
1%
More teachers
1%
Child care for other children
1%
Improve program, unspecified
1%
Child is safe there
1%
Good advocate
1%
Good communication
1%
Good meal program
1%
Helped with emergency assistance
1%
More days per week
1%
More locations
1%
More computers needed
1%
Proved classes for adults
1%
Need Hmong staff
1%
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Head Start Parent Survey February, 2000
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Attachment G (Continued)
General comments
Better recognition for advocates
1%
Different classroom/teacher for returning students
1%
Same classroom/teacher for returning students
1%
Child needs help putting on clothes
1%
More books available
1%
Quarterly conferences
1%
Have meetings right after school
1%
More in home meetings
1%
Monitor lice better
1%
Too many in home visits
1%
Trouble with a student
1%
Bus safety (seat belt, monitor)
1%
Great bus driver
1%
Provide transportation for parents
1%
Provide lunch to parents assisting with program
1%
Talk to parents before calling child protection
1%
Provide clothing assistance (hats, gloves, coats)
1%
Separate by ability not age
1%
Celebrate all holidays (Hmong New Year, Christmas, Kwanza, etc.)
1%
Good parental involvement
1%
Need medical insurance
1%
Need ESL class
1%
Need transportation
1%
Forced to work
1%
Wants counseling
1%
Wants low income Y2K assistance
1%
Curious about why we called
1%
Wants information about high schools in other counties
1%
