1 Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, Inc Whitney Road Clearwater, Florida Phone: (727) Toll free: (800) Website: A Compact For Reading

2 Agenda Welcome and Introductions Workshop Goals and Objectives Presentation of A Compact for Reading Questions Evaluation

3 Goals To increase reading achievement through family involvement To assist schools with developing a Compact for Reading

4 Objectives The objectives of this workshop are to describe: the components of the compact the key roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder the process of writing the compact how to evaluate and improve the compact

5 Wouldn’t it be great if all children could be winners with the skill of reading?

6 What is a Compact for Reading? A written agreement among families, teachers, principals, and students that describes how all partners can help improve the reading and other language arts skills of kindergarten through third-grade children, including those with disabilities and with limited English proficiency.

7 Why Do we Need a Compact for Reading? U.S. Department of Education’s Prospects Study (1993) Children who read at grade level by the end of grade 3 are usually more successful academically than those who do not.

8 Families can help children learn to read by: Reading to and with their children Reading themselves, and encouraging their children to read Keeping a variety of reading materials in the home Having high expectations for their children’s reading achievement Helping teach their children to read and respond to their children’s interest in books

9 Key Players and Their Roles Students Teachers and Administrators Families Tutors and other learning partners in the community

10 The 5 Step Process Step 1: Get Started Step 2: Write the Compact Step 3: Put the Compact for Reading to Work Step 4: Evaluate the Compact Step 5: Strengthen the Compact

11 Step 1: Getting Started Form a Core Compact Team. Identify the school’s literacy needs and resources. Make sure language differences are addressed.

12 Step 2: Write the Compact Explain the findings of the inventory of literacy resources and current levels of student achievement. Identify partner commitments. Write the Compact draft. Receive feedback on the draft. Write the final Compact.

13 Step 3: Put the Compact for Reading to Work The final Compact is shared with the entire school community. The Core Compact Team meets regularly to review commitments and status reports are shared. The School – Home Links Activities Kit is launched.

14 U. S. Department of Education Web Link Compact for Reading and School-Home Links Index

15 School-Home Links Activities Reading Kit One-page reading activities for children in kindergarten through third grade 100 activities for each grade level Easy-to-use activities that align with the major “Reading Accomplishments” published by the National Academy of Sciences Aligned with the Florida Sunshine State Standards

16 Step 4: Evaluate the Compact Agree on the results to measure Develop performance indicators Assess how well students are reading

17 Results to Measure Student Learning – Has there been upward movement in students’ skills and scores in reading? Communication – Have lines of communication among staff, families, and community members strengthened? Capacity Building – Has the capacity of families to help their own children learn to read increased?

18 Ways to Evaluate the Compact Individual Student Performance Informal Skills Checklists Informal Reading Inventories Direct Observations Formal Standardized Tests School Reports Surveys Administrative Records Focus Groups

19 Step 5: Strengthen the Compact Brainstorm ways to increase reading achievement, communication and capacity. Review the reading research to discover what works. Look for solid reading models based on research. Visit successful schools. Obtain help from experts in the field.

20 ED.gov Compact for Reading and School-Home Links Index Don’t forget to complete our online survey on the last slide!

21 Thank you! Please click on the link below to take a short online survey. Type in your password: readingcompact Parent survey: insert link here Educator survey: insert link here

22 Please Complete Evaluations! For more information contact: 2735 Whitney Road Clearwater, Florida Office: or Fax: