Abstract or Executive Summary I am waiting on completed action research study to complete. Title and Author The Success of Teen Moms in High School and the Resources Available to Assist Them Introduction/Background This Action Research Project is being conducted at Klein Oak High School, located in Spring, Texas. I am currently a teacher and coach employed by Klein Oak. I have been working at Klein Oak High School for the past eleven years and have seen dramatic changes since I was first hired. In the past nine years, our demographics have significantly changed. In 2003, our school reported having 5% African American, 13.8 % Hispanic, 77.4% White, and 10.5 % Economically Disadvantaged. In 2012, Klein Oak now reports having 11% African American, 28.4% Hispanic, 49.3% White, and 26.6% Economically Disadvantaged. With this change in demographics, a rise in teen pregnancy has also come about at Klein Oak High School. Our dropout rate is not yet high enough to show extreme concern, but it has increased in the past couple of years. Teen moms are choosing to try alternate routes other than high school to fulfill their education, but on their own most cases have shown less success. A significant challenge that I have faced in this project has been with the changing of the crisis counselor. I had a comfortable working relationship with the previous counselor when I started this project at the end of the school year and upon return from the summer we had a new counselor. She is a first year counselor, so it has been an adjustment, but we are beginning to make great strides working together. The Action Research Project thus far has gone pretty smoothly, although I have encountered some minor problems. It was hard to hold a meeting with all the teen moms on the same day. Attendance issues are a big problem with teen moms due to illness, daycare, transportation, and doctors visits. I had to become very flexible with setting up meeting times with these young ladies. At the beginning of the project, I encountered a problem with the counselor wanting to release statics and data regarding dropout and graduation rates. I assured her that all information would be confidential and no names would be used in the final report or in any stage of the research. The other problem that I encountered is being able to keep the same teen moms as part of my research with so many of them coming and going. I am currently working out a situation to continue contact with my subjects should they choose to leave Klein Oak High School. The purpose of my Action Research Project is to determine what resources are being provided or are needed for the teen moms at Klein Oak High School in order to ensure success for their graduation and beyond. This action research project will serve the needs of students with special and exceptional needs and students with diverse background because most of the teen moms fit into all of these categories. These students don’t usually have the support at home and this causes them to drop-out and not finish their education. This project could help generate community support to create day-cares, provide transportation, and create a credit recovery program. Without support and resources readily at the hands of the teen moms in this category, they will more than likely continue to have more kids and live off of welfare in the future. It is my hope that this action research will give all an opportunity to live a happy and successful life. Literature Review Teen pregnancy is on the rise each year. “Nearly 400,000 girls and young women between 15 and 19 years old gave birth in 2010, a rate of 34 per 1,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Kennedy, 2012). These young ladies automatically face new stereotypes and struggles in a high school setting. According to Mangel (2010), the number one reason that girls drop out of school is pregnancy. Her research found that schools can have a positive effect on keeping girls in school if there is a support program. (Mangel, 2010). On the other hand, schools that will not support the teens have seen a significant increase in the drop-out rate of teen moms. Kennedy also determined that helping these young ladies stay in school will “ultimately save taxpayers money by helping them become financially independent and not dependent on welfare.” (2012). In a similar study, Van Pelt (2012) examined the number of drop-out based on teen pregnancy. She found that 50% of teen moms compared to 90% of girls that were not moms graduated from high school. She concluded that these teen moms must be supplied with additional help in order to succeed. She found on-site healthcare and childcare services as important resources. Van Pelt (2012) determined group therapy sessions, academic support services, case management services and collaboration with outside community organizations to be important pieces for the graduation of a teen mom. The purpose of this action research study will be to examine the success of the teen moms at my current high school and determine if we have the resources in place to help them succeed in high school and beyond. My vision is for an equal opportunity for all in a public school setting. It is important to continue to teach prevention, but we have to stop ignoring the problem and the girls. We must do all that we can to provide every resource possible to help these young ladies prepare for a prosperous life. McGaha-Garnet stated in her research that the school environment is a factor related to teen moms dropping out. (2008). She found that school size, quality of teachers and level of participation were determiners of a teen mom stayed in school or not. McGaha-Garnet concluded that “adolescent mothers who continued in school reported the following: positive school climate, socialization with peer who have higher academic aspirations, and future goals towards postsecondary achievement.” (2008). Kennedy (2012) discovered that schools that fund programs that help teen moms, increase the chance of graduation and life-long success for these young ladies. According to her research, some schools are starting to begin these programs to help teen moms succeed. There are programs and schools in Washington, D.C. where volunteers take the time to text and call the young moms to make sure they are attending school regularly. Other schools such as Florida are now allowing homebound instruction and offers on-line classes to help the girls receive credit. In St. Johns County, the district now offers day-care and transportation for the teen moms. (Kennedy 2012). Van Pelt (2012) discovered that open communication with the community also provides these young ladies with an opportunity to grow into future leaders McGaha-Garnett (2008) found that teen moms can be inspired to finish school. She stated the “two major social avenues for adolescents are parent-adolescent relationship and peer involvement.” (2008). She also discovered that students that don’t feel isolated and surround themselves with support have higher educational goals. McGaha-Garnett (2008) found that teen moms with higher self esteems and confidence have a much better opportunity of finishing school. “Findings indicated that childcare, school climate, future goals, and peer academic aspirations were associated with high school dropout for adolescent mothers.” (McGaha-Garnett, 2008). McGaha-Garnett concluded her research with the findings that resources must be made available in order for teen moms to balance motherhood with school and personal relationships. (2008). Van Pelt has researched a proposed legislative assistance that could start helping schools in the near future. This legislation “will provide schools with professional development and technical assistance to schools, service coordination with relevant state agencies, coordinators, and school district liaisons for educating pregnant and parenting students.” (2012). These are the types of resources needed to avoid the illegal discrimination that is taken place against these young team moms. The decision making process for this action research project was based on the high increase of teen moms in Texas today. TV shows are promoting the enjoyment of being a team mom and our real teens are being fooled of the type of lifestyle that they would be living. These kids get up getting pregnant and then they are stuck with little or no resources. I met with my supervisor and pregnancy counselor at the initial stages of developing the project. We had considered surveying all the schools in our district but then decided to just study our school. Action Research Design Subjects The target population for this Action Research Project is current teen moms, teachers and staff that have experienced the education process that occurs during a teen pregnancy. Procedures I will manage the organization by keeping all participants in my research anonymous. I want all of my subjects to feel comfortable in responding in an honest manner. I have conducted several surveys that utilize both quantitative and qualitative questions. One survey will be administered to teachers. It will involve answering questions regarding teen moms that they have had in their classes. I will investigate how much time and effort was dedicated to helping these young ladies during and after their pregnancies. I will also determine their true beliefs and feelings towards the teen moms to decide if it deters them from helping the young ladies succeed. The other survey will be given to the teen moms. This survey will allow them to discuss what feel could better prepare them for success. It will help me determine if my school is on the right track for helping the young ladies be successful in high school and beyond. I have also conducted several interviews with school administration, counselors and attendance officers. I plan on interviewing some community members to try and engage their interest in becoming a partner and helping the school. I will review data of past teen mom dropouts and graduates. The information will be gathered from the survey instrument that involved responses from teen moms and teachers of teen moms. I will take all data I collected and compare the answers of the survey to see if it matches the data. I will meet with school leaders to discuss my findings. The information that I gather will promote the needs or success at my school. It will build consensus by establishing a common ground for all the students and their needs at our school. Communication will be the key is this project. Most of my information will be gathered on opinions of people that are most closely involved. The needs assessment helped me really establish the path I wanted to take in regards to teen moms and their struggles. It helped me clarify and build on my original project of success of teen moms in school and expand to my project to resources needed for success of teen moms in high school. I will resolve conflict by determining what resources are truly needed at my school in order to help the teen moms. I will also try to find ways to cut costs and help both sides find a happy medium to help all involved. Findings I am currently in the process of organizing my findings and preparing ways to share the information. Conclusions and Recommendations I have not completed the Action Research Project to date so I have not formed my conclusions and recommendations at this time. References Kennedy, K. (2012, November 25). Study: Pregnant Teens Need Better School Support. Daily Democrat. Retrieved from http://www.dailydemocrat.com Mangel, L. (2010, October 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.aclu-wa.org McGaha-Garnett, V. (2008). Needs Assessment for Adolescent Mothers: Building Resiliency and Student Success Towards High School Completion. GR Walz, J. Van Pelt, J. (2012). Keeping Teen Moms in School – A Social Work Challenge. Social Work Today, 12(2), 24.