OFFICE OF SCHOOL READINESS NCAEYC PRE-CONFERENCE

Family Literacy

Strategies for Engaging Families

September 18, 2008 Greensboro, NC

Jean Carter

NC Center for Family Literacy

jpcarter@verizon.net

919-740-8221

What is Family Literacy?What is Family Literacy?

“services that are of sufficient intensity in

terms of hours, and of sufficient duration, to

make sustainable changes in a family, and

that integrate all of the following activities:

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FAMILY LITERACYFAMILY LITERACY

Children’s Education

– An age-appropriate education to prepare children for success in school and life experiences

FAMILY LITERACYFAMILY LITERACY

Adult Education

– Parent literacy training that leads to economic self-sufficiency

FAMILY LITERACYFAMILY LITERACY

Parent Time

– Training for parents regarding how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children

FAMILY LITERACYFAMILY LITERACY

Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time

– Interactive literacy activities between parents and their children

Family Literacy HouseFamily Literacy House

Comprehensive Family Literacy Comprehensive Family Literacy ProgramsPrograms

ProgramChildren’sEducation

AdultEducation

ParentTraining

Parent & ChildInteraction

ComprehensiveFamily Literacy

ProgramsYes Yes Yes Yes

Provide intensive services that integrate the following components:

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Family-Centered ProgramsFamily-Centered Programs

Program Children’s Education

AdultEducation

ParentTraining

Parent & ChildInteraction

Family-Centered Children’s Education Yes Yes Maybe

Family-Centered Adult Education Yes Yes Maybe

Family-Centered Parent Education Yes Yes

(or Family-Focused Programs)

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Family Literacy Program Family Literacy Program RequirementsRequirements

Specifics

Negotiables

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TYPICAL DAY Center-based Family Literacy Program

Arrival of Parentsand Children

Breakfast

Adult Basic Ed., GEDor ESL Instruction for Parents

Age-appropriateEducation for Children

(Infant, Preschool, Elementary)

Interactive Parent-Child Activities (PACT)

Lunch

Parent Time Quiet Time for Children

Additional Adult Basic Ed.,GED, ESL

Age-appropriate Education Continues for Children

Departure of Parentsand Children

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Parenting Ed in Family LiteracyParenting Ed in Family Literacy

Overall Goal: to strengthen parents’ support of their young children’s literacy development and early school success

Goals for Parents:

1. provide supports for literacy in the home

2. engage in language-rich parent-child interactions

3. hold appropriate expectations of their child’s learning and development

4. actively embrace the role of parentyellow

PACT: Parents & Children PACT: Parents & Children Together Together

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Subpart 3 of Part B of Title I of the

No Child Left Behind Act orange

Who are Even Start participants?Who are Even Start participants?

Eligible Families are those with –

A parent or parents who are

– Eligible for services under Adult Education and Family Literacy Act,

– Within compulsory school attendance age if the LEA makes

available the basic education component, or

– Attending secondary school

and

The child or children, from birth through age seven, of any

individual described above.

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Even Start StatuteEven Start Statute

Purpose

Eligible Entities

Funding

Program Elements

Applications

Subgrant Awards

Evaluation

Indicators of Program Qualitypink and green

NC Family Literacy in 2007-08NC Family Literacy in 2007-08

24 NC Family Literacy Projects

Served 590 families

604 adults and 721 children

1,325 total family literacy participants

60% were English Language Learners

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Characteristics of Newly Characteristics of Newly Enrolled Even Start FamiliesEnrolled Even Start Families

Newly enrolled:

91% at or below the Federal poverty level 94% without a high school diploma 52% of adults had not gone beyond 9th grade

54%

46%

Returning Families

Newly Enrolled Families

Family Literacy . . .Family Literacy . . .

Does

It

Work?

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