Parental Engagement: Factors Parents and Guardians Consider When Selecting an out of School Time (OST) Program

The purpose of this research was to investigate the needs of parents and guardians who enroll their children in Out of School Time (OST) Programs in Philadelphia. It provides further guidance toward formalizing how OST programs recruit students and their families, and assessing parental engagement activities from a consumer's perspective. Applying Joyce Epstein's conceptual framework of parental involvement to OST best practices within community-based organizations (CBOs) may synergistically increase the support felt by students and their families. Fifty-three parents and guardians answered a Community Perceptions survey. This 23 item, mixed methodology survey examined their perceptions of OST programs, their needs for utilizing OST programs, and barriers they may have encountered to engage with the programs. Themes emerging from the data were that families did not associate OST with academics but social and emotional connections and their work schedules were barriers to participating in OST programming. The main factors that influenced their decision to register for programs were to allow their children to pursue their interests and hobbies, keep them active and to focus on their child's interest. The most effective ways families found out about OST programs was through day school staff, flyers posted in school and flyers sent home. When choosing an OST program, respondents reported the hours of operation were very important and safety ranked high. The program being in the neighborhood and aligning to their work schedule also valued high in importance. Parents and guardians associated OST with social and emotional wellness. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]