This article appeared in last week's PEN NewsBlast. The report cited is
titled "The Family: America's Smallest School" and it was produced by
the Educational Testing Service. It takes a look at a number of factors
that affect children, including reading to young children, literacy
materials in the home, children living in poverty and parent involvement
in the school. Also included are many statistics you might find useful.
Read below and click on the link for the report.

 

 

 

QUALITY OF HOME LIFE KEY IN CLOSING OR OPENING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS
The gaps in critical home conditions and experiences of young children
mirror the achievement gaps that begin early in life and persist through
high school, according to results from a new study conducted by the
Education Testing Service. The study's researchers examined the factors
that influence early childhood learning and found that 33 percent of
children live in families in which no parent has a full-time, year-round
job. Additionally, by age four, children of professional families hear
35 million more words than children of parents on welfare. According to
Paul Barton, who co-authored the report, "single-parent families,
parents reading to children, hours spent watching television and school
absences, when combined, account for about two-thirds of the large
differences among states in National Assessment of Educational Progress
reading scores." The study suggests that in order to improve schools and
student achievement, reform efforts must go beyond the public policy
arena and focus on creating home and community environments that aid in
educational development.
http://www.ets.org/familyreport
<http://public-education.org/080E1502001B11173214131F1E1B065C1D00150E454
64645460E40434141444A0E400E4341424A4542420E08.aspx> 

 

Gail J. Price

Multimedia Specialist

National Center for Family Literacy

325 W. Main Street, Suite 300

Louisville, KY 40202

gprice at famlit.org

502 584-1133, ext. 112

 

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