The document describes a study that implemented a program of electronic parental notification to evaluate its impact on student test grades, homework participation, lab grades, and attendance levels. The study found some positive effects but was limited by its short duration, small sample size, and lack of a control group. Parent surveys indicated a positive reception to the parental notification program. The results suggest expanding the study longer-term with a larger, more diverse sample could provide more meaningful insights.

1. Improving Student Test Grades, Homework Participation, Lab Grades and Attendance Levels By Implementing a Program of Electronic Parental Notification Letters Richard Lieb SEYS 778 – Professor Brian Murfin “ The more the family members engage in their children’s education, the more likely the student will navigate school successfully. (Sheldon, 2007)”

2. Review of Literature – Poor Homework Performance and High Absences lead to Poor Academic Performance. Studies (Couts,2004) have shown that an increasing number of secondary students complete no homework assignments at all. Students average 4-5 hours of homework per week and 28 hours of television viewing (Walberg, Paschal & Weinstein, 1985)

3. Review of Literature Numerous studies (Epstein & Sheldon, 2002; Epstein & Sheldon, 2004 Roby, 2004; Sheldon, 2007 ) have consistently shown that students who do not attend school regularly have poorer academic performance than students who do regularly attend. High school absenteeism is a very strong predictor of dropping out (Epstein & Sheldon, 2002).

4. Review of Literature – Solution is Parental Involvement Research (Sheldon, 2007) has shown that students who have parents that provide high expectations for their children and participate in their children’s education have better overall performance and lower absence rates. Burkett and Helm (1989) showed a significant reduction in absences when automated phone calls were placed to immediately inform parents of student absences.

5. Review of Literature Sheldon and Epstein (2002; 2004; Sheldon, 2007) concluded that a comprehensive program of parental involvement, including contact parental contact, significantly improved attendance levels and academic performance.

6. Question One How does a program of parental notification through the electronic means of e-mail and text messaging effect student performance in Homework, Lab Grades and Test Grades and Reduce Absences?

7. Question Two Will the program be well received by the parents?

8. Hypothesis Homework, Lab Grades, Test Grades and Attendance levels will all improve after parents receive a series of parental notification e-mails, text messages. The program will be well received by parents.

9. Methods – Pretest Period First three weeks of term, students’ homework participation, lab grades, test grades and absences were recorded with no intervention. Email addresses and text messaging numbers were collected from parents by means of sending home a letter and phone calls.

10. Methods – Test Period Students were informed that their parents would be receiving weekly notification of their performance. Parental Notifications were sent out weekly for four weeks.

11. Methods Notifications took on three different forms: -Email -Text Message -Regular Mail (For parents who could not be contacted.)

12. Email Sample email included Brief explanation of the project. Students’ Homework scores, Lab Grade, Test Score and Number of Absences. Additional Information such as Open School Night Dates, etc. March 22, 2009 To the parent or guardian of As part of a graduate school research project, I will be sending you weekly progress reports for the next month of how__ is doing in Living Environment class. The reports will include number of absences, number of homework assignments completed, lab grades and test grades. Below is the progress report for 3/1609-3/20/09. Number of Homework Assignments Completed: 1/2 Lab #6: 100 Test Grade: N/A Number of Absences Recorded: 0 I look forward to greeting you this week during Open School . Open School will take place Thursday March 26th from 6:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M and Friday March 27th from 12:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. If you have any questions concerning these scores, please feel free to e-mail [email_address] . Thank you, Richard Lieb Living Environment FDR

13. Text Message Text Message Included: Date of Report Students’ Homework scores, Lab Grade, Test Score and Number of Absences. Contact E-mail Report 3-15 – 3/22 HW – 2/4 Test – 84 Lab – 100 Absences – 1 Questions? [email_address] Limited to 150 Characters

14. Letter Sample letter included Brief explanation of the project. Students’ Homework scores, Lab Grade, Test Score and Number of Absences. Additional Information such as Open School Night Dates, etc. Request for Electronic Contact Information Space for parent signature March 22, 2009 To the parent or guardian of As part of a graduate school research project, I will be sending you weekly progress reports for the next month of how _____ is doing in Living Environment. The reports will include number of absences, number of homework assignments completed, lab grades and test grades. Below is the progress report for 3/16/09-3/20/09 Number of Homework Assignments Completed: 0/2 Lab Grades: 85 Test Grade: N/A Number of Absences Recorded: 0 If you have any questions concerning these scores, please feel free to e-mail [email_address] . I would like to send these reports to you by either e-mail or text message. Please fill in the information below to receive these reports electronically. E-mail address____________________________ OR Cell Phone_______________________ Cell Phone Carrier________________ I look forward to greeting you this week during Open School. Open School will take place Thursday March 26th from 6:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M and Friday March 27th from 12:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. Please sign this form and have ____ return it to Mr. Lieb. Thank you, Richard Lieb Living Environment FDR Parent Signature: _________________________ Comments:

15. Total of each Communication Type

16. Parental Survey Final Week of the Study, a short three question survey was e-mailed to all parents receiving e-mail.

17. Sample Sample consisted of one Living Environment B Class. N = 33 Students were Fluent English Speakers, though not all of their parents were. Class makeup: 18 Freshman 15 Sophomores

18. Analysis Student Averages were calculated for Homework, Test Scores, Lab Scores and Number of Absences for the Pretest and Test periods and compared for significance using a One Way ANOVA.

19. Comparison of Means

20. One Way ANOVA Tests Alpha = .05

21. One Way ANOVA Tests Alpha = .05

22. Results by Communication Type All differences tested for significance using One Way ANOVA with Alpha = .05 and found to NOT be Significant.

23. Results of Parental Survey Out of eighteen e-mails surveys sent, nine were returned. Return Rate = 50% Results showed parents have a positive attitude towards program.

24. Survey Results – Very Positive!

25. Survey Question One

26. Survey Question Two

27. Survey Question Three

28. Limitations Short Study Period Underestimated the amount of time needed to collect parent data Test period only four weeks Small Sample Size No Control Group Available Other Classes were ELL students or Different Skill Level

29. Limitations Differing Material Material at the beginning of the term is basically review During the test period students were exposed to new material such as homeostasis unit. General Nature of the Semester Students generally start out attending more and turning in homework and this decreases as semester progresses.

30. Limitations Students who most needed intervention received letters. School may have incorrect address Letters may be intercepted by student. Text Messaging Limited Number of Characters and did not allow for parental reply.

31. Reason to be Positive Parental survey showed parents have a positive attitude towards this type of study. Anecdotal Success with a few students Due to notification, parent realized that the student was not completing homework because he failed to purchase workbook .

32. Reason to be Positive Parent made me aware of difficulties in the students life including a long commute and overload of extra curricular activities. We made arrangements for student to make up missed work. Two Parents notified me that they were made aware of absences they didn’t know about.

33. Future Study Speak to principal about making e-mail address collection standard practice school wide as this enhanced communication between me and the parents. Implement program over the long term making better use of technology.