Summer reading loss is a documented reality for many students. It is often of greatest concern for those who are already at risk, who typically have limited access to reading materials at home and whose parents or caregivers may be reluctant or unsure of how to help. By raising parents' awareness of the importance of supporting their children's…

School districts are central players in the child care delivery system: they operate a mix of child care centers and programs, serve a range of children of different ages, and fund their programs from a variety of federal, state, and local sources. This report provides a range of programmatic and fiscal information about the federal and state…

Two case studies of adult GED (General Education Diploma) students and their kindergarten-aged children are presented. The construct of "capital," as described by Pierre Bourdieu (1986), is applied specifically to the children's and adults' reading practices. These case studies are analyzed in terms of various forms of official…

Intended for practitioners from preschool to college whose major interest is literacy development, this book presents 20 essays that discuss multiple perspectives of the varied definitions of family literacy and provide ideas for schools, community agencies, and families by presenting different types of programs to put into practice. Essays in the…

These hearings transcripts present testimony regarding reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). "Chapter 1" of this legislation is a central part of federal education policy. Education is currently funded at about $7 billion a year; an additional $700 million, or 10 percent, is budgeted for the coming fiscal…

This manual was developed to help facilitators explain, implement, or expand a family literacy program. It is based on research and on the experience of developing and implementing the model program established by Literacy Volunteers of America-Chippewa Valley in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The program encompassed the four basic components of family…

One of the most common worries children's parents have is how well their children are learning to read. Introducing children to the joys of reading depends not only on the teachers, but on the parents. The most effective way parents can teach children how to read and to love reading is to read to them and, later, with them. Jim Trelease, author of…

A project operated a model, adaptable family literacy program in a housing authority that served 35 residents. Its objectives were to improve parents' basic skills and help them improve their ability to assist their children, to assist parents in learning appropriate expectations for their children and understanding individual differences, and to…

The Kountze Public Library in Texas conducted a program using cross-age tutoring as a strategy to strengthen family reading skills, to develop a collection of educational literacy materials in the library, and to disseminate results to the public. During the 1-year program, 29 volunteers participated, with 14 trained as tutors. Tutors worked 64…

This booklet guides educators in developing the family involvement part of a Title I program proposal. The booklet presents a checklist based on the new Title I Parental Involvement guidelines, many sample forms, sample school district parental involvement policies, sample program descriptions, and an overview of some research in parental…

This paper describes the Partners in Literacy Project developed by Phelps County, Nebraska R-6 School District. This project involves a partnership among the school, the parents, and students in promoting the literacy development of students. This rural school district serves a student body of 43 and consists of 6 staff members. The students are…

Identifying primary themes in literacy development and suggesting parallel practices to reinforce them, this book details how teachers and the families of students created a connection between home and school, developing respected partnerships in the teaching/learning process. The book features the voices of teachers, children, and parents;…

As a follow-up to phase 1 in reports 1-2, this report presents the second and third phases of a project which examined changes in seven Illinois family literacy programs, assisted the sites in implementing evaluation systems, and tested the usefulness of an evaluation framework. In phase 2, structured and conversational interviews and site…

This document consists of the four issues of a newsletter published during 1996-1998. This newsletter provides a periodic update on the activities of the Early Childhood Research Working Group (ECRWG), organized in 1995 by the U.S. Department of Education and other federal government departments and agencies to promote interagency cooperation and…

Breaking the continuing cycle of low literacy levels transmitted from one generation to another is the philosophy behind family and intergenerational literacy programs. This Practice Brief describes some of the family literacy program models that are proving effective. It also summarizes strategies and resources that can help practitioners. The…