Seeking Individuals for Membership on the Family Literacy Research and Evaluation Advisory Group

To:Superintendents, Principals, and Other Interested Parties
From:Jeffrey Nellhaus, Acting Commissioner of Education
Date:February 5, 2008
As part of a strategic effort to prevent the achievement gap for young children and close the achievement gap for older children and their parents who are under-educated and or limited English proficient, the Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) unit of the Department of Education is conducting a research and evaluation study. The purpose of the study is to investigate the efficacy of "Family Literacy" as a means of helping families achieve success in school, in the workforce, and in their communities. I invite you to participate in the Family Literacy Research and Evaluation Advisory Group to help guide an the evaluation being conducted by Early Childhood Associates (ECA) under contract with ACLS. The key question the study will answer is: Does the provision of integrated family literacy services result in better outcomes for children, their parents and for families overall compared with adults and children enrolled in educational programs that are not integrated? Four Even Start Family Literacy Programs in our state will be the primary focus of the evaluation. The Even Start Family Literacy Program is a federally funded program intended to help families overcome intergenerational cycles of under-education and poverty by providing integrated services: age-appropriate education to prepare young children for success in school; parent literacy training that leads to economic self-sufficiency; interactive literacy activities between parents and their children; and training for parents to support them in their roles as the primary teacher for their children and a full partner in their education. The Family Literacy Research and Evaluation Advisory Group will advise the evaluation team. Up to twelve individuals representing a broad range of stakeholders including practitioners and policymakers representing preschool through post-secondary education, workforce, philanthropy, and family serving agencies will be selected. It is expected that the advisory group will meet three times in 2008 with an estimated total time commitment of approximately 12 hours inclusive of previewing materials. Members will serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily and reasonable incurred in the performance of their role. The first meeting will be held in early March. Interested parties should email Arlene Dale, Family Literacy Specialist at the Department of Education (adale@doe.mass.edu), no later than February 20, 2008.



Last Updated: February 6, 2008



Top