Research Begins to Evaluates Changes in the Education and Socio-economic Status of AVANCE Graduates

Dec. 3, 2012 - PRLog -- AVANCE (ah-vahn-ceh) and the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) have begun a research project to evaluate the long-term impact of AVANCE’s Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) across generations. The research will assess changes in the education and socio-economic status of parent and child AVANCE graduates.

AVANCE’s stellar record of success in supporting parent leadership and the education of young vulnerable Latino children is aligned with IDRA’s mission and vision. This research project will contribute to the body of knowledge about effective practices that empower vulnerable communities and families to persist and persevere, in spite of adversities.  

“Children who participate in high-quality early education and in Head Start stay in school. They learn to read, they learn to write, they learn to communicate, they graduate from high school, they go to college or get themselves into life training, and create a good life for themselves,” said Maria Robledo Montecel, Ph.D., CEO and President of IDRA.

The last extensive research study of the PCEP was completed in 1991 by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Carnegie study found the PCEP has a powerful effect on the ability of women participating in the program to provide an educationally and emotionally encouraging environment for their children. Since 1998, AVANCE Chapters have conducted local research projects tracking school achievement of AVANCE child graduates in the Dallas and El Paso Independent School Districts. Other past research activities include school readiness surveys, impact on mothers surveys, and maternal attitude and behavior studies. However, there has not been a comprehensive research study to evaluate the long-term impact on AVANCE parent and child graduates from multiple AVANCE Chapters across the state of Texas.

Evaluation is critical for educational programs like AVANCE because it provides evidence to stakeholders and donors that the program works and their investment is having a positive impact on families in at-risk communities. “We are really excited to get this project under way because it will reaffirm that AVANCE’s Parent-Child Education Program strengthens families and helps children become school-ready,” Dr. Glendelia M. Zavala, AVANCE’s Chief Program Officer explained.

To date, contact information for approximately 10,000 AVANCE alumni has been provided to IDRA. The evaluation study will consist of telephone surveys of parent and child graduates to assess changes in education and socio-economic status since graduating from the PCEP. They will also conduct case studies with a sample of families who completed the PCEP. In summer 2013, IDRA will provide an evaluation report of its findings. If you are an AVANCE graduate and would like to participate, please contact the Programs Department at 210-230-9677.