Influence of Parental Involvement on Students’ Success in Title I Charter School in Texas as Perceived by Middle School Principals

Ten middle school principals of Title I charter schools were interviewed in this qualitative, phenomenological narrative study to explore the influence of parental involvement on students’ success in Title I charter schools in Texas as perceived by middle school principals. Each interview was analyzed before combining them to develop a complete picture of the phenomenon. Coding and pseudonyms were used for each participant to maintain anonymity and confidentiality of data and records in the study. The findings suggest that most of the principals considered parental involvement as a combination of different expectations set for both parents and school. Thus, school and the parents must work together and take joint responsibility for the students’ education in school. Other findings from this study suggest that charter school principals are experiencing less parental involvement as students move from elementary to middle school. Finally, the findings from this study affirm that all principals strongly believe that parental involvement has a strong influence on students’ success

Impact of Traditional Practices on Women\u27s Health in Africa: Research Conducted in Cape Coast, Ghana, June 2001

Traditional cultural practices are found in every social unit, in all societies. They stem from values and beliefs intrinsic in the cultural fabric of any given society. Such beliefs lead to certain practices in the area of health that can be a detriment or a benefit to a segment of a population. Examples in Africa range from FGC (female genital cutting); preadolescent or early adolescent marriage; nutritional taboos; social, cultural, and educational preference for male children; pregnancy practices and taboos, dowry-related mistreatment and enslavement of wives; abuse related suicides; etc. In all these examples, it is women who are affected by the traditional cultural practices. Some of these harmful traditional practices contribute to the high rate of mortality in women and children in Africa (United Nations, 1998). By healthfully influencing these traditional and cultural practices, the mortality rate could be reduced. Following from this, the purpose of this study was to describe harmful traditional marriage and family health practices of women in Ghana, West Africa, assess their current attitudes and beliefs about these practices, and make recommendations for culturally respectful alternative approaches to family life and health

The Need for a School-based Student Obesity Prevention Program: Perceptions of Rural Elementary Principals

This phenomenological study investigated the perceptions of elementary principals regarding the need for a school-based student obesity prevention at eight, rural elementary schools in North Central Texas. Face to face interviews were the primary method of data collection from the eight participants. Findings indicated that school-based obesity prevention programs are needed to decrease the occurrence of student obesity, improve student diets and health related behaviors, educate families on obesity prevention measures, and improve the academic performance of students. The need to inform and include relevant stakeholders in the creation and implementation of school-based obesity prevention programs was identified as an essential component to the success of the program. The findings provide school leaders with components needed for an effective school-based obesity prevention program along with barriers for consideration

Finding Correlations Among Academic Performance, Demographic Influences and Clinical Competency Utilizing Predictive Variables in An Associate Degree Nursing Program

A nonexperimental, quantitative, correlation study was utilized as the research design to explore the relationship between multiple academic and demographic variables on the final clinical assessment score and Health Education Systems, Inc., (HESI) Exit Exam (E2) score from a South Texas ADN program. The research was conducted to address the nursing workforce shortage and effective ways to predict academic and clinical achievements for associate degree nursing (ADN) programs. The academic variables for the research consisted of preadmission grade point average (GPA) and Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) I prerequisite GPA. Age and gender were used as the demographic variables for the research. Quantitative correlational analysis identified if academic and demographic variables were beneficial in determining not only academic achievement but also the clinical success of nursing students to validate admission criteria for the future selection process of applicants at a small, public community college in South Texas. The results of the research determined a student\u27s overall academic performance and demographic background will not inhibit them from becoming a successful nurse

Educating Immigrant Women Through Social Support

The purpose of this case study was to describe a single multicultural women’s support program known as the Women of Care Project. The program was conducted in a community in the Midwest region of the United States and began in 2005 with a grant from the Open Meadows Foundation. Participants were volunteers who were recruited for the program through pre-existing access points to the Bosnian, African, and Hispanic communities, such as ethnic churches, markets, and key contacts within these communities. The support group format for the Women of Care Program was an open group format in which participants were encouraged to invite their friends to join. The initial support group consisted of women from various cultural origins, including Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Russia, Sierra Leone, Brazil, China, Taiwan, India, Nepal, Bosnia, Mexico, and the United States. This case study was based on focus group discussions, as well as observations and completion of evaluation forms. To analyze data, the focus group discussion notes and summaries were rearranged into recurring themes. The evaluation provided further feedback from the discussions to cement these themes. Findings suggested immigrants, especially women, benefit from support groups. Group involvement could empower women and increase their general sense of well-being in overcoming barriers they may face in transitioning into a new environment. It is recommended that host communities have integration programs which benefit both the host community and the immigrant: a win–win situation