This document contains 10 commissioned papers presented at a research design symposium on family literacy. It also contains a summary of the symposium, which was structured around five themes: assumptions and perceptions about family literacy; what we know from research and practice and how we know it; defining the characteristics of family literacy programs; looking to the future--arguing for the top priorities for research and practice; and refining and articulating the top priorities for research and practice. The papers include the following: "Integrated Services, Cross-Agency Collaboration, and Family Literacy" (Judith Alamprese); "English Immigrant Language Learners: Cultural Accommodation and Family Literacy" (Richard Duran); "Designing and Conducting Family Literacy Programs that Account for Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Other Cultural Differences" (Vivian L. Gadsden); "Family Literacy Programs: Creating a Fit with Families of Children with Disabilities" (Beth Harry); "Longitudinal Study of Family Literacy Program Outcomes" (Andrew Hayes); "Family Literacy: Parent and Child Interactions" (Larry Mikulecky); "Teaching Parenting and Basic Skills to Parents: What We Know" (Douglas Powell); "Intergenerational Transfer of Literacy" (Catherine Snow, Patton Tabors); "Informing Approaches to Serving Families in Family Literacy Programs: Lessons from Other Family Intervention Programs" (Robert St. Pierre, Jean Layzer); and "Meeting the Needs of Families in Family Literacy Programs" (Dorothy Strickland). Appendixes include a list of symposium participants and biographical sketches of commissioned authors. (KC)