Former Head Start Parents' Characteristics, Perceptions of School Climate, and Involvement in Their Children's Education

Abstract

In this study we explored the relation between former Head Start parents' self-efficacy beliefs, beliefs about their children's academic abilities, their affective state of depression, their perceptions of the school climate, and their reported level of involvement in their children's education at the end of the children's kindergarten year. 253 former Head Start parents were interviewed. Parents reported moderately high involvement in their children's education. There were no differences in reported involvement between parents in a transition demonstration program designed to follow Head Start children and their families through kindergarten and the first 3 grades with a Head Start-like program of parent involvement and family support services (n = 157) and those who were not in the program (n = 96). Both parents' views of school climate and their beliefs in their ability to exercise control over their children's education predicted school-related parent involvement. None of the variables predicted repor...