| Despite a plethora of research studies that focused on the importance of early childhood education and parental involvement, stakeholder needs assessment findings showed an apparent need to examine the implications of knowledge and awareness of parents and community members regarding the value of preschool and the direct impacts on preschool enrollment. The literature suggests that communities, practitioners, and parents tend to underutilize the research findings on early childhood education. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine ways to improve the knowledge base, attitudes, and behavior of parents' perception on child enrollment, to increase preschool funding, as well as to develop a strategic action plan proposal on the usefulness of a Community-Based Voluntary Preschool Program (CBVP) for 4-year-old children. The conceptual framework of the study was based on systems theory of early childhood education, theories of parental involvement, and planned behavior. The study used the triangulation of utilization-focused evaluation and evaluative case study approach within the participatory action research (PAR) framework coupled with 21 stakeholders as participants in the study. To facilitate the data collection and analysis process, the logic of the convergent parallel approach was used as framework resulting in the emergence of five themes: (a) access to information, (b) misconceptions, (c) value of preschool, (d) barriers, and (e) expansion. The findings resulted in the development of a communication tool to disseminate information to the community about the value of preschool. In addition, a strategic action plan was generated to engage stakeholders in a collaborative effort to contribute to positive social change by future expansion of the CBVP program to include 3-year-olds and to change it from voluntary to compulsory enrollment. |
