Name of the Project

Ohio Family Literacy Statewide Initiative

Grantee Contact

Dr. Mary Lou Rush

Ohio Department of Education

25 S. Front Street, 3^rd Floor

Columbus OH 43215

Tel: (614)466-0224 and Fax (614)728-2338

E-mail: marylou.rush@ode.state.oh.us

Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Coordinator

Jeanne Lance, Initiative Coordinator

Ohio Department of Education

25 S. Front Street, 3^rd Floor

Columbus OH 43215

Tel: (614)466-0224 and Fax (614)728-2338

E-mail: Jeanne.Lance@ode.state.oh.us

Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Project Goals

• To develop indicators of program quality for Even Start family literacy programs
• To strengthen State infrastructure in relation to Ohio's major educational reforms efforts and in relation to special needs populations
• To provide opportunities at all levels to develop awareness and disseminate information about scientifically-based research on literacy and reading for service providers, parents, and child care providers of 0-5 children, including information for special needs populations
• To provide technical assistance for family literacy program development and/or enhancement especially for REA schools and programs serving special needs populations
• To develop strategies to strengthen local evaluations for Even Start family literacy projects
• To influence State policy
• To evaluate the Family Literacy Statewide Initiative in order to strengthen the initiative.

Project Description

Building on a history of supporting providers and potential providers of family services, the initiative will broaden its focus to support the development of quality four-component family literacy programs in schools receiving REA funds and in programs serving LEP, migrant, and homeless families, and adults and children with disabilities. In addition to the current five non-Even Start-funded Demonstration Sites, at least four model programs that serve special needs populations will be identified as demonstration sites. All Even Start and non-Even Start Family Literacy Demonstration Sites will provide technical assistance to communities in program development stages. As Even Start programs begin to operate based on Statewide quality indicators and as programs are evaluated according to performance, Even Start program quality will be enhanced so that these programs can serve as even stronger models for other family literacy programs.

Priorities

• Using research on reading and literacy in program planning
• Implementing a professional development plan for staff
• Increasing the intensity of family literacy activities for school-age children (up to 7 years old)
• Improving local evaluation methods and practices
• Absolute Priority: Family Literacy Performance Indicators