Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Adoption of Proclamation - "READ TO ME" Day - September 8, 2006

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In recognition of “International Literacy Day,” the Department of Adult and Community Education promotes reading to young children and adults each year during September, which is National Literacy Month. Family literacy programs focus on processes to develop attitudes, skills, and understandings that enable parents to be effective partners in their children’s education. READ TO ME is such an initiative. The major goal of the READ TO ME campaign is to promote the premise: Home is the First School, Parents are the First Teachers, and Reading is the First Lesson.

The month of September 2006 will focus on the READ TO ME campaign throughout Hillsborough County. The first in the series of events to kick off the campaign is the request that the School Board proclaim September 8, 2006, as “READ TO ME” Day and dedicate school district efforts to promoting parent involvement and adult education and family literacy initiatives.

The Department of Adult and Community Education supports this initiative and will offer technical assistance to adult educators, elementary schools, and child care providers. Schools will be provided ideas from activities suggested by the National Coalition for Literacy, including a master copy of a parent handout to be distributed to parents encouraging them to read with their children and implement literacy activities in the home.

The importance of reading is an essential part of all Adult and Community Education programs. Additional emphasis is being placed on reading for adult learners to further develop their abilities to read to, and be involved with, their children’s education, while developing their own workplace readiness and life skills. That is expected to translate into children with improved pre-literacy and reading skills as well as increased family involvement with schools.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

Goal 1 - The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

Funding received under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Grants ($150,000) is used to directly support the district's reading and literacy initiatives by providing resources for family literacy programs, providing parenting and grandparenting classes, incorporating family skills in adult education classes, and providing family literacy training for adult education and early childhood instructors.

EVALUATION

SUBMITTED BY: Karine Johns, Supervisor of Adult Instruction

Kenneth R. Allen, Ed.D.
Director, Adult and Community Education
(813) 276-5654 x 222
Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
(813) 272-4221
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Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20060822_182 * Section A Item# 1