Family Partnership in Reading Project bringing scientifically based research to family literacy programs

The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL), long known for its contributions to the improvement of literacy services for parents and their children, will create a new series of professional development materials that summarize the scientific research on reading for family literacy professionals.

This initiative, called the Family Partnership in Reading, is being funded by the National Institute for Literacy through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Institute for Child Health and Development and other project partners will also contribute to the conceptualization and development of these materials.

The products and materials developed under this partnership are designed to serve Head Start, Early Head Start, Even Start, and other programs as they:

• Help young children develop the foundational skills they need to become good readers
• Equip parents to support their children's literacy development
• Improve reading instruction for parents in family literacy programs

NCFL has identified and convened an Expert Working Group to review the scientifically based research literature on language development, literacy, and communication (including parental and home effects on development) for children ages birth through five. This is similar to the work done by the National Reading Panel for reading instruction in grades K-3. The working group's synthesis of the research will inform the identification of strategies and practices for use in family literacy programs and the development of materials and training that explain them for family literacy service providers.

These materials are expected to be pilot tested in the summer of 2003 with a variety of family literacy programs.

For more information about NCFL's Family Partnership in Reading Project, contact Susan Davis at sdavis@famlit.org or call 502-584-1133, ext.151.

Family Partnership in Reading products

The Family Partnership in Reading will create the following products:

Guidebook. A manual in four key sections, the guidebook will feature: an overview of scientifically based research as it relates to the major components of family literacy, including: how children birth to age 5 develop language, literacy, and communication and how children in grades K-3 learn to read; how adults learn to read; and how parents can support their children in these areas, including strategies for parent/child interactions in the home and community.

Research synthesis. A group of leading national reading experts will synthesize the research on the development of language, literacy, and communication in children birth to age 5, including parental and home effects on that development.

Workshops. The information in the guide book and research synthesis will form the basis for a variety of workshop sessions which will provide staff development for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Even Start family literacy providers.

National Center for Family Literacy Website

Partnership for Reading - Family