Educating high schoolers about parenting: Aligning research recommendations, parents’ priorities, and state standards

• In Event: AERA Research in Progress Roundtable Session Five
  In Invited Roundtable: Research-in-Progress RT074 (Sunday)

Abstract

One important role that many individuals will eventually take on in their lives is that of a parent. Yet, Americans receive little to no preparation for this decades-long responsibility. Including education about parenting and child development in high school curricula can equip adolescents with foundational knowledge of children’s needs, developmental milestones, and caregiving responsibilities. In the current study, we present a review of current state standards on teaching parenting and child development in high schools, propose a National Standards Framework for Parenting and Child Development in American Schools, and share findings from our national survey of parents’ views on this issue. Taken together, insights from our study serve to bridge research recommendations, parents’ priorities, and state standards.

Authors

• Sandra El Hadi, Harvard University

• Iris Jeffries, Harvard University

• Cuichun Cao, Harvard University

• Meredith L. Rowe, Harvard University