Family Literacy

“Family literacy is a nationally recognized, family-centered approach to education with a powerful premise: Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. “

Did you know?

•  More than 60 different languages are spoken by LPS students and families.
•  29% of LPS students report an ethnicity other than White · 43% of LPS students live in poverty (that number is 70% in the 14 highest poverty schools)
•  More than 2,300 students are learning English as a second, third, or fourth language.

What is Family Literacy?   Family Literacy is a nationally recognized and innovative educational approach with a powerful premise. It brings students and families together to learn -  challenging parents, guardians and their children to identify academic and life goals that will improve the quality of their lives. Family literacy impacts the entire community. Research shows, A mother’s reading skill is the greatest determinant of her children’s future academic success, outweighing other factors, such as neighborhood and family income.

An investment in a family’s literacy education is an investment in our community’s financial and cultural future. Family literacy programs believe in engaging families in the learning process and sharing lessons with parents, recognizing they will pass along those lessons to their sons and daughters.  At the Foundation, we believe family literacy is a compelling way to help build “Strong, Stable Families”, one of our four pillars.

When parents and children go to school together, the entire community benefits. Family literacy programs have been implemented in 10 Title 1 school buildings in Lincoln Public Schools, but we need your help to support this program  and help it thrive. Family literacy at LPS provides several components for mothers and fathers.  During part of the school day, adults receive basic lessons in language and literacy, as well as parenting skills.  The rest of the school day, they spend time in their children’s classrooms, learning math right along side them.

Upon program completion, parents are more likely to:

• Feel confident helping their children with homework
• Read to their children
• Conference with teachers
• Volunteer in the classroom

The results are powerful:

•  200 percent increase in English acquisition by parents at their children’s schools
•  275 percent increase in parents reading in English to their children
•  222 percent increase in parent volunteerism in schools

Teachers report that students involved in the Family Literacy Program at LPS are more likely:

•  To have good or excellent family support.
•  To have good or excellent classroom behavior.
•  To have future success in school.

Family Literacy programs have broad impact by fostering development of the connecting language in our increasingly globalized community. This program works, the results are generational, and we are just getting started! By supporting Family Literacy with a gift, you’re doing more than advocating for families seeking to begin a new chapter in their history, you are helping the future of our community.

GIVE TO FAMILY LITERACY