AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program External Impact Evaluation Technical Report January 2014 Intercultural Development Research Association Mission: The Intercultural Development Research Association is an independent, non- profit organization that is dedicated to assuring educational opportunity for every child. Vision: At IDRA, we develop innovative research- and experience-based solutions and policies to assure that (1) all students have access to and succeed in high quality schools, (2) families and communities have a voice in transforming the educational institutions that serve their children, and (3) educators have access to integrated professional development that helps to solve problems, create solutions, and use best practices to educate all students to high standards. Functions: Policy and Leadership Development – IDRA policy and leadership development promotes accountability and responsibility. Using inclusive, cutting-edge and broad-based strategies, we develop leadership within communities, schools and policy-making bodies to create collaborative and enlightened educational policies that work for all children. Research and Evaluation – IDRA research and evaluation advance educational policies, programs and practices. Using collaborative and innovative methods, we investigate important questions and provide insights into compelling educational issues. As a national resource, we set standards in the design, analysis, and synthesis of timely and useful research involving diverse populations. Professional Development – IDRA professional development causes people across the country to take action that empowers others. We assist people to create educational solutions through innovative, participatory, and hands-on presentations, workshops, and technical assistance that promotes sustained growth and development. Our assistance values the needs and cultures of our participants and acknowledges their experiences. We carefully craft training designs that include reflection and application. IDRA professional development causes participants to take a new look at persistent problems and equips them to take action that produces positive outcomes for all children. Programs and Materials Development – IDRA programs and materials cause people across the country to improve education for all children. Our programs produce results. Our materials are useful and timely; attractive, cost-effective and intuitive; linguistically, culturally and developmentally appropriate. IDRA pro-actively disseminates cutting-edge information to educators, administrators, decision- and policymakers, parents and community leaders. AVANCE Parent-Child Program External Evaluation Technical Report Picture on cover – Dolls created by AVANCE mothers at Houston chapter Copyright © 2014 by the Intercultural Development Research Association All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or by the publisher. Requests for such permission will be most generously handled by: Intercultural Development Research Association; 5815 Callaghan Road, Suite 101; San Antonio, Texas 78228-1102; Ph. 210-444-1710; Fax 210-444-1714; E-mail: [email protected]; www.idra.org No ISBN. Distributed by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Manufactured in the United States. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program External Impact Evaluation Technical Report AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program External Impact Evaluation Technical Report IDRA Evaluation Team Dr. Abelardo Villarreal, Chief Operations Officer Roy Johnson, Director of Support Services and Evaluation Dr. Rosana Rodríguez, Senior Education Associate Dr. Felix Montes, Research Associate and Principal Report Author Charles Cavazos, Research Associate Christie Goodman, APR, Communications Manager Principal Investigators Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA President and CEO Dr. T. Jaime Chahín, Dean of the College of Applied Arts at Texas State University-San Marcos AVANCE Staff Richard J. Noriega, President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Glendelia M. Zavala, Senior Programs Director Caitlin Solís, Grants Manager Jesus Herrera, Chief Operating Officer Magdalena Santos, Senior Director of Business Outreach/Unlocking America’s Potential Project Director Elisa Bernal, Compliance Director Beth Barbee Hubbert, Director of External Relations Marisa Chapa, Research Analyst Alison Fahey Maldonado, Program Coordinator Dr. Ana Schaller, Program Evaluator, AVANCE-Dallas Intercultural Development Research Association i AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program External Impact Evaluation Technical Report Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... iii External Evaluation Report ..............................................................................................................1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................1 AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) ................................................................2 Purpose and Scope of the Evaluation.........................................................................................3 PCEP Description ......................................................................................................................6 Evaluation Design and Methodology...............................................................................................9 Data Collection Methods ...........................................................................................................9 Evaluation Logistics.................................................................................................................13 Data Analysis and Reporting ...................................................................................................14 Limitations of the Evaluation...................................................................................................15 Evaluation Findings ......................................................................................................................16 AVANCE Graduate Demographics – The Population ............................................................16 Telephone Interview Participant Demographics – The Sample ..............................................18 Impact Analysis by Focus Areas..............................................................................................26 Focus Area 1: Knowledge of Child Development and Parenting Skills ..........................28 Focus Area 2: Support for Two-Generation Education and Growth ................................43 Focus Area 3: Employment and Income Levels ...............................................................58 Focus Area 4: Homeownership and Entrepreneurship .....................................................67 Focus Area 5: Barriers, Lasting Effects and Suggestions for Improvement ....................79 Case Studies ...........................................................................................................................100 San Antonio ....................................................................................................................101 Dallas ..............................................................................................................................110 Houston ...........................................................................................................................116 Austin ..............................................................................................................................119 El Paso ............................................................................................................................123 Conclusion, Findings and Recommendations ..............................................................................125 Findings............................................................................................................................125 Recommendations ...........................................................................................................131 Concluding Remarks .......................................................................................................135 References ....................................................................................................................................137 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................138 Telephone Survey ...........................................................................................................139 Case Study Guide ...........................................................................................................144 Intercultural Development Research Association ii AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program External Impact Evaluation Technical Report Parent-Child Education Program External Impact Evaluation Report Executive Summary AVANCE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit parent-child education and family support organization headquartered in San Antonio that continues to provide innovative education and family support services to predominantly