Family & Community Adult Education Family Literacy
Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium

Our vision is successful families. Our mission is successful partnershps.

November is Family Literacy Month

When families, schools, and communities work together to support children's academic achievement and social development across early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school, children are much more likely to have the skills and abilities needed for success in college and the workforce.

That's why I am pleased to announce that Governor Patrick has issued a Proclamation of November 2009 as Family Literacy Month. Family Literacy Month provides an opportunity to support the whole child in out-of-school learning, engage parents in supporting their children's education, and engage community partnerships in supporting and celebrating lifelong learning and family well-being.

We are encouraged that so many schools, libraries, adult literacy and parent support programs, social service agencies, and businesses are providing organized activities for families during Family Literacy Month. Many of these activities involve parents and children reading together but others include: book giveaways; read-a-thons; read alouds by authors and community leaders; bookmaking; storytelling; family math nights; and trips to museums, historic sites, and natural landmarks. If you would like to celebrate Family Literacy Month in your community, here are some resources to get you started:

  

Governor Patrick's 2009 Proclamation of Massachusetts Family Literacy Month

The Executive Office of Education's Educational Resources for Parents and Care Givers web page

The Department's Family Literacy Month web page

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner's Family Literacy Month Events web page

The National Center for Family Literacy's Free Resources web page

The U.S. Department of Education's Parents web page

This celebration, sponsored by the Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium (MFLC) and its member agencies, underscores the importance of education as a foundation for lifelong learning and family success. The MFLC is a statewide initiative with the mission of forging effective partnerships among state agencies, community organizations, and other interested parties to expand and strengthen family literacy and support. For more information about the MFLC, visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/familylit/mflc.html.