Harmon Johnson Healthy Start Grant
Family needs survey leads to increased participation and attendance
Harmon Johnson Elementary School, Sacramento County, CA
Student achievement is greatly influenced by attendance, and family involvement and connectedness to the school plays a big part in improving student attendance. Harmon Johnson Elementary School experienced an increase in attendance through unexpected means.
An in-depth family needs survey was developed as part of the school's Healthy Start grant application process. Information gathered from students, school staff, parents, and other community members was used to develop the survey. In an effort to get a high response rate, the survey was translated into Spanish by the school's community liaison. In addition, Hmong parents who were not comfortable with responding to a survey written in English were provided with bilingual translators who read the questions and recorded their responses. As a result, over 61 percent of parents completed the survey. The number of responses from each ethnic group was in proportion to that group's numbers at Harmon Johnson School. Parents who completed the surveys became advocates for participation by other parents.
The survey was administered in separate sections over a five-month period, and the results led to many extensive discussions. School and community forums were held to examine the results of the survey and gain additional input. As a result of the survey, new programs were put in place. Parents and families at Harmon Johnson gained the opportunity to participate in educational programs such as English as a second language, parenting, and computer education. Community partners help fund these activities, held after school and evenings on campus.
The needs survey was important in identifying unmet needs of the Harmon Johnson school community. But an unanticipated result of the survey was also very important―a significant increase in communication among Harmon Johnson staff and families, which led to a better understanding of each other, a shared appreciation for the importance of education, and a resulting increase in school attendance.
For more information contact David Nevarez, Principal, at david.nevarez@twinriversusd.org or Terry Press-Dawson, Healthy Start Coordinator, at terry.press-dawson@twinriversusd.org.