Background/Context: Educational researchers have long sought to understand the factors that enable or constrain persistence in non-formal family literacy and adult education programs. Scholars typically posit three sets of factors influencing persistence: situational (learners' life circumstances), institutional (programmatic factors), and…

This study examined how poverty and residential mobility influence low-income adults' persistence in family literacy programs in Pennsylvania. Twelve out of 20 program directors reported that learners typically moved at least once a year. In five of these high-mobility programs moving was reported to significantly hinder persistence. Geographic…

To help states learn from each other's experiences, this report focuses on what three states--Arizona, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania--are doing to improve and expand family literacy services. It also includes background information on family literacy, resources, and names and addresses of state directors of family literacy. The case studies show…

The Lycoming County Literacy Project based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, examined both traditional and family literacy General Educational Development (GED) program participants to determine which programs produce the best results. GED test scores were collected from instructors teaching both traditional and family literacy GED participants. Test…

A staff development project created a series of family science activities to be used in adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) and family literacy programs and a training guide for staff and volunteers. The training guide provides background principles and concepts for science activities. The activities identify materials and indicate ways the…

These two documents discuss two related family literacy projects that were conducted to develop a model for providing sustained literacy and developmental activities to economically disadvantaged families throughout Pennsylvania. The first document details the development/implementation of the Families Reading Together program, which built upon…

This publication presents the family literacy program performance standards for which all Pennsylvania family literacy programs (both Pennsylvania Adult Basic and Family Literacy Education Act 143 and Even Start) will be held accountable. It begins with an implementation plan that discusses the legislative background of the performance standards…

A project was undertaken to develop a model that adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) programs throughout Pennsylvania could use as a framework to develop and implement collaborative family literacy programs in cooperation with human services agencies and community-based organizations, including providers of Even Start, Head Start, and other…

The Focus on Networking project was undertaken to identify significant Adult Education Act Section 353 demonstration projects produced by Pennsylvania project directors and adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) practitioners nationwide and to publish a newsletter to disseminate information about those projects. A panel of 6 literacy experts…

The Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce addressed family literacy through the promotion of a "Jump into Reading" videotape and its accompanying brochure in local businesses and schools as well as throughout Pennsylvania. Jump into Reading was designed to teach parents the importance of reading aloud to their children and offer techniques…

This document contains descriptions of 55 adult education experimental demonstration projects and 18 adult education staff development projects conducted in Pennsylvania in fiscal year 1991. The projects are funded through Section 353 of the Adult Education Act of 1988. Each description includes a project number, project costs, contact person with…

This document contains descriptions of 66 adult education experimental demonstration projects and 18 adult education staff development projects conducted in Pennsylvania in fiscal year 1992. The projects are funded through Section 353 of the Adult Education Act of 1988. Each description includes a project number, project costs, contact person with…

This publication consists of the complete set of 23 monographs developed by the Pennsylvania Action Research Network to supplement the 67 monographs produced over the past 3 years. The specific audience are literacy, General Educational Development (GED), and English-as-a Second Language (ESL) practitioners. The titles are: "Use of…

A statewide evaluation indicated Pennsylvania's family literacy programs were meeting goals and providing family-centered, integrated educational services for eligible families. Findings indicated that family literacy programs recruited eligible and "most in need" families; enrolled families had young children; parents had limited formal…

This guide, which is intended for administrators of programs providing adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) services in Pennsylvania, contains 59 individually authored papers devoted to planning, managing, and improving ABLE programs. The following are among the topics discussed in the guide's five sections: understanding the role of the ABLE…