[NIFL-FAMILY:1878] RE: Championing Family Literacy to LEA's

From: Don Seaman (dseaman@tamu.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 25 2004 - 13:38:15 EDT


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From: "Don Seaman" <dseaman@tamu.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1878] RE: Championing Family Literacy to LEA's
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Jeri:  Could you please provide me (and the list participants) the
references for the research that you mentioned about "engaging parents"?  I
could sure use that information for some research we are planning.  Thanks
much.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeri Levesque" <levesqjr@webster.edu>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 1:36 PM
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1873] RE: Championing Family Literacy to LEA's


> Tony,
>
> This is an excellent point. I am assisting the writing of an Early
> Reading First grant for a school district that has an Even Start
> program. At first, the administration was reluctant to include the Even
> Start site in its proposal.  I shared the parent involvement piece
> (below) and Even Start was included with additional emphasis on parental
> involvement "coaching."  The initial proposal made the cut with the
> inclusion of Even Start cited by the reviewers as a strength!
>
> Last summer I worked with a state that included reading teachers and
> family literacy staff at their state reading conference. I used the
> exact text of the NCLB in a presentation to inform participants about
> the critical role of parental involvement that was at the core of family
> literacy. This lead to some exciting epiphanies as some elementary
> teachers realized that Even Start adult learners would soon be coming to
> their schools/classrooms as parents of their students.  Furthermore,
> these parents would enter the building expecting to be involved with
> their young children's learning because that's how it always worked in
> family literacy.  Incidently, we have evaluation data that affirms that
> many parents do stay involved after Even Start, and the attendance
> records (in a pilot study) demonstrate that their children met or
> exceeded district norms.
>
> A final sales pitch for parental involvement and family literacy.
> Research demonstrates that the more engaged parents are with their
> children's school the more positive things they have to say (see the PDK
> Gallup poll).   Let's stretch a stream of logic for a moment. Given that
> many family literacy programs are linked to schools that do not make
> adequate yearly progress (AYP), the more staff can do to help parents
> understand that they play a vital role in helping the local teachers and
> principal to build a stronger school, the greater the chance that the
> parents will choose supplemental services at that school rather than
> request another school. These LEA's need to reach out to the Even Start
> parents and assure a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten
> and beyond, According to the Gallup Poll: "In general, schools with high
> poverty concentrations and minority enrollments reported less parent
> involvement than schools with lower poverty concentrations and minority
> enrollments.  Future research might address ways schools can more
> successfully attract parents from these groups."
>
> Certainly, family literacy is one was to remove barriers between parents
> and schools. So in a way, Even Start is a champion for NCLB.
>
> Best,
>
> Jeri Levesque
> Evaluation Coordinator, Missouri Even Start Programs
> LIFT
> 636-946-3858
>
> Tony Peyton wrote:
>
> >Sylvan and Jeri,
> >
> >One thing to consider when communicating with the K-12 sector is the
family
> >literacy angle in the parental involvement piece of Title I programs.
The
> >U.S. Department of Education recently released the non-regulatory
guidance
> >titled, "Parental Involvement: Title I, Part A"
> >http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/parentinvguid.pdf
> >On pages 25-26, the document states:
> >"E-3. Does the LEA, with the assistance of its SEA, have a responsibility
to
> >upgrade the educational levels of parents of participating students,
> >particularly those parents who do not possess a secondary school diploma?
> >SEAs must encourage an LEA and its schools receiving Title I, Part A
funds
> >to offer family literacy services (using Title I, Part A funds) if the
LEA
> >or school determines that a substantial number of Title I, Part A
students
> >have parents who do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized
> >equivalent or who have low levels of literacy. [Section 1111(c)(14),
ESEA.]
> >
> >Title I, Part A funds can be used to support the full range of family
> >literacy activities, including parenting education and educational
services
> >for adults who need improved literacy skills in order to support their
> >children's learning, if the LEA has exhausted all other reasonably
available
> >sources of funding for those activities. [Section 1118(e)(7), ESEA.]"
> >
> >While each school and/or district is somewhat autonomous, it is good to
know
> >about things like the above piece as you are  talking with the school
> >administrators.
> >
> >Tony Peyton
> >National Center for Family Literacy
> >325 W. Main Street, Suite 300
> >Louisville, KY 40202-4237
> >(502) 584-1133 x.126
> >fax - (502) 584-0172
> >tpeyton@famlit.org
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
Sylvan
> >Rainwater
> >Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 4:40 PM
> >To: Multiple recipients of list
> >Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1870] RE: Championing Family Literacy to LEA's
> >
> >
> >Cool. In Oregon, we're just now getting our outcomes data on-line, so we
> >will be able to get this information in a more timely fashion as well. I
> >hope it has a beneficial effect on the climate in the state, at least.
> >Actually, our state DOE is very supportive of Even Start programs, as now
> >the Even Start administrator is housed there.
> >
> >The K-12 sector, however, is a tough nut to crack, partly because each
> >school and district is somewhat autonomous, and they feel they are
already
> >having trouble meeting their objectives without "adding" more.
> >
> >-------
> >Sylvan Rainwater  mailto:sylvan@cccchs.org
> >Program Manager Family Literacy
> >Clackamas Co. Children's Commission /  Head Start
> >Oregon City, OR  USA
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
Jeri
> >Levesque
> >Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 4:41 PM
> >
> >Sylvan,
> >
> >I spoke with a top administer at Missouri's Department of Education, she
> >feels the challenge before family literacy advocates is to work with the
> >Governor and state legislature to establish secure funding streams.  We
> >recently mined program evalulation data that affirms that all of the
> >state's family literacy programs exceed the state's standard for AEL
> >student achievement.  In fact, in 25% of the 20 programs analyzed, 100%
> >of the adult learners met or achieved the standard.  Given this finding,
> >family literacy programs appear to be a safe bet for investing state
> >dollars for AEL with additional funding targeted for early education.
> >What impressed me the most, was the moment the stats affirmed outcomes
> >that fed into the success of the overall state system, the conversation
> >moved right into funding possibilities.
> >
> >I'm still looking for a social marketing campaign concept that will
> >cheer this success with a champion/benefactors' financial support.
> >
> >Jeri Levesque
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>



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