Family literacy is a proven, research-based methodology that gets entire families involved and committed to education. Designed after the Kenan Model for Family Literacy, Family C.A.R.E.E.R.S. currently serves 37 families who participate in family literacy activities including:

• Parent and Child Together (PACT) time: parents spend two hours a week in their child’s classroom working side-by-side on literacy lessons modeled by the classroom teacher.
• Parent time: parents attend workshops to receive training in a range of topics including health and financial literacy, parenting skills and elementary school communications
• Parents’ Education: parents attend their educational class in their child’s school.

In addition parents gain work experience. Parents receiving TANF benefits are paired with a school staff mentor to complete their work experience assignment and learn entry-level skill-sets for employment at an elementary school.

Family Literacy serves the families in our district that are most in need. For instance:

• 85% of the families served are below the poverty line.
• 63% have a work experience assignment that they must complete in order to maintain their TANF benefits.
• 95% do not have their high school diploma or equivalent.

The presence of the children’s parents in the school, either attending literacy class or working, acts as a strong incentive for the entire family to get to school.