Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Perceptions of Schools and Implications for Best Practices

In response to changing social conditions, the role of grandparents in America is being redefined. Rather than playing the traditional role in the lives of their grandchildren, grandparents have assumed full responsibility for raising them during times of crisis. The number of children living in households headed by grandparents increased from 2.2 million in 1970 to 4.9 million in 2010. Since grandparents are raising 4.9 million children in the United States, the public school system has a responsibility to work with grandparents to ensure the success of those children. Educators such as classroom teachers and counselors must understand the specific needs and dynamics of the grandparent-headed household. The purpose of this research is to record and analyze the perceptions, experiences, and perspectives of grandparents raising school-aged children about schools and to identify the manner in which schools are responding to their needs and to the needs of their grandchildren. This research provides a greater understanding of how custodial grandparents perceive schools and what they need from schools. A focus group design was utilized to gather and analyze the perceptions and experiences of grandparents regarding the school(s) in which their grandchildren are enrolled. Grandparents want their stories to be heard. This research gives a voice to grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership)

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Youngstown State University

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Watson, Melissa D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Vergon, Charles

• Counseling Education
• Educational Leadership
• Education Policy
• Families and Family Life
• Grandparents raising grandchildren

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1364909486

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ysu1364909486