Evaluation of the primary school 1st grade parent education program: Example from Salihli district, Manisa province

The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a parent education program, implemented by the researcher, based on participant perspectives of parents of first-grade students. The sample of the research consists of 20 parents of first-grade students attending Ismail Bali Primary School in Salihli district of Manisa province during the 2022-2023 academic year. Content analysis, a quantitative research method, was employed in this study. The researcher conducted a review of scientific and academic studies on the topic, compiled relevant literature, and integrated it into the study in relevant sections. The outcomes of the implemented parent education program were determined considering Welman and Moore's taxonomy. The program's content was structured based on Modular Programming approach. The program, spanning 8 weeks, covered topics such as child development and characteristics, conflict and stress management, positive behavior development, social-emotional skills education, importance of family involvement in school, healthy nutrition and physical activities, and conscious and safe use of technology for parents. The program was evaluated using the Bennet Program Evaluation Model. Following the education, a semi-structured parent interview form prepared by the researcher was administered. The responses obtained were analyzed using content analysis method. As a result of the research, data were obtained regarding parents' reasons for participating in the program, difficulties experienced in parenting roles, and responsibilities undertaken. It was observed that the researcher-developed parent education program positively contributed to parents' personal development, parenting roles, and perspectives.