Family Literacy & the Achievement Gap National Conference on Family Literacy April 1, 2008 Louisville, Kentucky Dorothy S. Strickland, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2007 National Center for Education Statistics Some Overall Results — White, Black, and Hispanic students in grades 4 and 8 made modest gains Female students outperformed males Some student groups made gains in both grades 4 & 8; however, these gains were not accompanied by significant closing of racial ethnic and gender gaps. Some modest gains have been met. Yet, the gaps remain challenging and persistent.

Some Overall Results —

White, Black, and Hispanic students in grades 4 and 8 made modest gains

Female students outperformed males

Some student groups made gains in both grades 4 & 8; however, these gains were not accompanied by significant closing of racial ethnic and gender gaps.

Some modest gains have been met. Yet, the gaps remain challenging and persistent.

What Is Known About Children’s Literacy Development Literacy learning starts early and persists throughout life Oral language is the foundation for literacy development Children’s experiences with the world and with print greatly influence their ability to comprehend what they read Children are active participants in the processes of learning language and literacy

Literacy learning starts early and persists throughout life

Oral language is the foundation for literacy development

Children’s experiences with the world and with print greatly influence their ability to comprehend what they read

Children are active participants in the processes of learning language and literacy

Children’s Literacy Development (cont.) Storybook reading, particularly family storybook reading, has a special role in young children’s literacy development Literacy learning is nurtured by responsive adults. Literacy learning is deeply rooted in a child’s cultural milieu and family communications patterns.

Storybook reading, particularly family storybook reading, has a special role in young children’s literacy development

Literacy learning is nurtured by responsive adults.

Literacy learning is deeply rooted in a child’s cultural milieu and family communications patterns.

The Role of Family Literacy in the Achievement Gap Home Literacy Environment is highly correlated with — Higher student achievement Better student attendance Positive attitudes toward education (both parents & students)

Home Literacy Environment is highly correlated with —

Higher student achievement

Better student attendance

Positive attitudes toward education (both parents & students)

The Early Years Family Literacy Programs and the Literacy Skills of Young Children Research Evidence: A meta-analysis of the impacts of effective home and parent programs on the literacy skills of young children indicate that these interventions improve oral language and general cognitive development — — both are key contributors to literacy achievement National Early Literacy Panel, 2008

Research Evidence:

A meta-analysis of the impacts of effective home and parent programs on the literacy skills of young children indicate that these interventions improve oral language and general cognitive development —

— both are key contributors to literacy achievement

National Early Literacy Panel, 2008

Meaningful Differences Averages for measures of parent and child language and test scores Families 13 Professional 23 Working-class 6 Welfare____ Measures and scores Parent Child Parent Child Parent Child Pretest score 41 31 14 IQ score at age 3 117 107 79 Recorded vocabulary size 2,176 1,116 1,498 749 974 525 Average utterances per hour 487 310 301 223 176 168 Average different words per hour 382 297 251 216 167 149 (Hart & Risley, 1995)

The Early Childhood Years Impact “ Taken together, we estimate that at least half of the black-white gap that exists at the end of twelfth grade can be attributed to the gap that already existed at the beginning of first grade. The remainder of the gap seems to emerge during the school years.” from M. Phillips, et al (2000) analyzed several achievement gap related surveys in an attempt to describe age related changes in the Black-White gap as children move through the grades (NCES)

“ Taken together, we estimate that at least half of the black-white gap that exists at the end of twelfth grade can be attributed to the gap that already existed at the beginning of first grade. The remainder of the gap seems to emerge during the school years.”

from M. Phillips, et al (2000) analyzed several achievement gap related surveys in an attempt to describe age related changes in the Black-White gap as children move through the grades (NCES)

The Adolescent Years Challenges for Learners & Teachers School Structures: Departmentalization Shift from self-contained to departmental classes Shift in role of the teacher Subject-matter specialists Responsibility for large numbers of students Unlikely to differentiate instruction These factors affect learning for ALL students. May be exacerbated for children at risk for failure.

School Structures: Departmentalization

Shift from self-contained to departmental classes

Shift in role of the teacher

Subject-matter specialists

Responsibility for large numbers of students

Unlikely to differentiate instruction

These factors affect learning for ALL students.

May be exacerbated for children at risk for failure.

The Adolescent Years Key Areas for Home/School Collaboration During the adolescent years, Family Literacy Programs work best when Home and School share a common understanding and vision for — Supporting motivation and engagement Understanding and meeting instructional demands Providing quality intervention

During the adolescent years, Family Literacy Programs work best when Home and School share a common understanding and vision for —

Supporting motivation and engagement

Understanding and meeting instructional demands

Providing quality intervention

Some Characteristics of Effective Family Literacy Programs Focus on ongoing family literacy practices Promote parents’ literacy skills Equip parents to support children’s literacy development Respect participants’ languages and cultures Actively involve participants in overall planning and conduct of meetings, etc. Make accommodations for logistical needs (scheduling, childcare, location, etc.) Focus on child and family “well being”

Focus on ongoing family literacy practices

Promote parents’ literacy skills

Equip parents to support children’s literacy development

Respect participants’ languages and cultures

Actively involve participants in overall planning and conduct of meetings, etc.

Make accommodations for logistical needs (scheduling, childcare, location, etc.)

Focus on child and family “well being”

The Power & Potential of Family Literacy Programs Family Literacy: Responds to a growing awareness of the need for schools, families, and communities to work together Is increasingly valued as a key component of educational programs Is an important part of a growing body of research designed to inform & improve literacy education policy and practice Family Literacy Programs play a key role in closing the achievement gap.

Family Literacy:

Responds to a growing awareness of the need for schools, families, and communities to work together

Is increasingly valued as a key component of educational programs

Is an important part of a growing body of research designed to inform & improve literacy education policy and practice

Family Literacy Programs play a key role in closing the achievement gap.

Literacy Now Go to NCFL’s blog to share your thoughts and ideas about closing the achievement gap: www.famlit.org/blog

Go to NCFL’s blog to share your thoughts and ideas about closing the achievement gap:

www.famlit.org/blog