Form 9 Parent Focus Group

FOCUS GROUP GUIDE FOR PARENTS

NOTE: Focus groups with a sample of parents/guardians of students participating in School Turnaround AmeriCorps will be conducted in winter 2016 at select schools.

1. Please tell us your first name, the grade your child attends at school, and how long you’ve been part of this school community.

2. How many of Are you are aware of the (new) School Turnaround AmeriCorps program at your child’sthis school? The AmeriCorps program here is coordinated by [FILL IN GRANTEE ORGANIZATION’S NAME HERE] and is calledThe AmeriCorps program is also known as [FILL IN GRANTEE ORGANIZATION’S NAME HEREINSERT LOCAL PROGRAM NAME].

If no one is aware of the program, ask questions 1013a, 130b and 130c, then end the surveyfocus group.

3. For those who are aware of it, hHow did you first hear about the program [LOCAL PROGRAM NAME]? Do you continue to hear about the program or receive any information from the program?

4. Has your childHave your children participated in the program this school year (2015-16)?

5. What program activities has yourhave your children taken part in this year? (Please describe.)

6. What have your children told you about the program, and hHow does your child they feel about the new AmeriCorps program?

7. Have you been involved at all with in the program? (In what ways?) How do you interact with the program, if at all?

If so, how have you taken part?

What is your opinion about the new AmeriCorps program?

8. Since your children started participating in the program, have you become more involved in your child’sthe school? If so, how?

Since your child started participating in the program, have you received greater access to information and resources about how you can support your child’s education?

9. Have you seen positiveWhat changes have you noticed, if any, since your children started participating in the program (for example, information sent to you from the school, your child’s homework, academic performance, the way the school feels (school climate))?brought about by the program? [If needed, probe on academics, behavior, school climate and safety]

10. Do you have other any feedback or comments about the program, either positive or negative?

11. Now I will read several statements about your school and the AmeriCorps programthis school. For each statement, please tell meraise your hand to indicate whether you strongly disagree, disagree, agree, strongly agree, or don’t know.

	Strong Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
a. Teachers and leaders at my child’s school care about my child’s academic performance.
b. Teachers and leaders at my child’s school care about my child’s social and emotional well-being.
c. Families play an active role in our school.
d. AmeriCorps members (or local name) provide helpful support to the students in this school.
e. AmeriCorps members (or local name) are important partners in improving student outcomes.
f. AmeriCorps activities occur frequently enough to be valuable.

12. On a scale of 1-4 where “1” is “Very successful” and “4” is “Very unsuccessful,” what is your perception of the overall success of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program (or use local name throughout) in terms of how successful it is in helping the school improve in general? (By show of hands.)

Options: 1=Very Successfulsuccessful, 2=Somewhat successful, 3 = Somewhat unsuccessful, 4 = Very unsuccessful, Don’t Know

13. On a scale of 1-4, wWhat is your perception of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program’s success in improving student academic achievement? (By show of hands.)

Options: 1=Very Ssuccessful, 2=Somewhat successful, 3 = Somewhat unsuccessful, 4 = Very unsuccessful, Don’t Know

14. On a scale of 1-4, wWhat is your perception of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program’s success in improving student social and emotional health? (By show of hands.)

Options: 1=Very Successfulsuccessful, 2=Somewhat successful, 3 = Somewhat unsuccessful, 4 = Very unsuccessful, Don’t Know

15. On a scale of 1-4, wWhat is your perception of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program’s success in improving school climate (for example, the school’s safety and physical appearance, staff attitudes and school culture, and the general atmosphere and instructional and disciplinary environment)? (By show of hands.)

Options: 1=Very Successfulsuccessful, 2=Somewhat successful, 3 = Somewhat unsuccessful, 4 = Very unsuccessful, Don’t Know

16. Is there anything else you’d like to share today about this school or the program [LOCAL PROGRAM NAME]? Do you have any suggestions for improvements?

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