National Institute for Literacy

Policy Update

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REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

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Family Literacy Added to the America Reads Challenge

- December 12, 1997 -

 Recognizing that one of the best ways to help children improve their reading skills is to help parents strengthen their own literacy skills, the Department of Education has announced an important new incentive for college work-study students to tutor adults in the context of family literacy programs through the America Reads Challenge.  The attached letter summarizes the new policy.

Background

 The America Reads Challenge is the President’s initiative to ensure that all children read well and independently by the end of third grade.  (See December 21, 1996 Policy Update at http:// www.nifl.gov for details.)

 In order to encourage college students to volunteer as literacy tutors, the President last year revised the Federal Work Study (FWS) program to provide a financial incentive for colleges and universities that have work-study students serving as tutors for children.  The new waiver broadens the incentive to include students tutoring adults in family literacy programs.  Over 800 colleges and universities are participating.  (For more information see http://www.ed.gov/inits/ americareads, or call 202-401-8888.)

 Congressional Action
 
  The House of Representatives on October 22 passed a literacy bill, H.R. 2614, that requires all colleges and universities nationwide that participate in the FWS program to use at least two percent of their work-study funds to compensate students employed as reading tutors for either child or family literacy projects.  (For a copy of the bill, see http:// thomas.loc.gov, or call the House Document Room at (202) 226-5200.)