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Citation:

Chavkin, N. F., Gonzalez, J., & Rader, R. (2000). A home-school program in a Texas-Mexico border school: Voices from parents, students, and school staff. The School Community Journal, 10(2) 127-137.

Annotation:
This study presents an overview of ongoing research on the implementation of a Mega Skills program in rural south Texas schools near the Mexican border. The schools adopted one or more of the Mega Skills programs: Parent Workshop, Essentials in the Classroom, Career Mega Skills, Mega Skills Bond, and Mega Skills Environment. Data collection is complete for one school and ongoing for the others. Although this program evaluation is preliminary, the study demonstrates that Mega Skills can be an effective home-school program that increases academic achievement and attendance in low-income Mexican American communities. Although there was no comparison group, math and reading scores on standardized tests increased for both third and fourth graders, with third grade math and reading showing the largest gains. Fourth grade writing scores also increased. Attendance at open house was up more than 50%. The approach worked best when it was combined with the efforts of parents, teachers, and the community. In this qualitative study based on parent, teacher, and student feedback, 140 students participated, with 99% of the sample being Mexican American. Researchers note that though the study of Mega Skills' impact on student achievement is empirical, it does not include inferential analysis.