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

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: yellow

FAMILY LITERACY  Children’s Education –An age-appropriate education to prepare children for success in school and life experiences

FAMILY LITERACY  Adult Education –Parent literacy training that leads to economic self- sufficiency

FAMILY 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 LITERACY  Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time –Interactive literacy activities between parents and their children

Family Literacy House

Comprehensive Family Literacy Programs Program Children’s Education Adult Education Parent Training Parent & Child Interaction Comprehensive Family Literacy Programs Yes Provide intensive services that integrate the following components: yellow

Family-Centered Programs Program Children’s Education Adult Education Parent Training Parent & Child Interaction Family-Centered Children’s Education Yes Maybe Family-Centered Adult Education Yes Maybe Family-Centered Parent Education Yes (or Family-Focused Programs) yellow

Family Literacy Program Requirements  Specifics  Negotiables green

TYPICAL DAY Center-based Family Literacy Program Arrival of Parents and Children Breakfast Adult Basic Ed., GED or ESL Instruction for Parents Age-appropriate Education for Children (Infant, Preschool, Elementary) Interactive Parent-Child Activities (PACT) Lunch Parent TimeQuiet Time for Children Additional Adult Basic Ed., GED, ESL Age-appropriate Education Continues for Children Departure of Parents and Children pink

Parenting 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 parent yellow

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

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. purple

Even Start Statute  Purpose  Eligible Entities  Funding  Program Elements  Applications  Subgrant Awards  Evaluation  Indicators of Program Quality pink and green

NC Family Literacy in  24 NC Family Literacy Projects  Served 590 families  604 adults and 721 children  1,325 total family literacy participants  60% were English Language Learners blue

Characteristics of Newly Enrolled 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

Family Literacy... Does It Work? lime and white