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Every Child Ready to Read® Evaluation

In 2007, the Public Library Association (PLA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) began an evaluation of the Every Child Ready to Read® parent education initiative.

PLA and ALSC jointly developed the Every Child Ready to Read® @ your library® program to provide public libraries with vital tools to help prepare parents for their critical role as their child's first teacher. Based on research from the PLA/ALSC Early Literacy Initiative, the three Every Child Ready to Read® programs target parents and caregivers of children ages: 0-2 years-old (Early talkers), 2-3 years-old (Talkers), and 4-5 years-old (Pre-readers).  Since the program's training and materials were introduced in 2004, hundreds of libraries have held programs for parents and caregivers to prepare them to help children get ready to read.

Susan B. Neuman, ED.D., currently a professor of educational studies at the University of Michigan specializing in early literacy development, was selected to evaluate the impact the ECRR initiative has had on public library practice; evaluate the extent to which the ECRR initiative has been institutionalized and leveraged in public libraries; conduct a research/literature review to identify key research, information and practice in the area of early literacy relevant to the ECRR initiative; and recommend next steps for the ECRR initiative.

The ECRR Evaluation Task Force presented their final report to the ALSC and PLA Boards during the 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.  Both Boards reviewed, discussed, and unanimously approved the recommendations of the task force, including funding to revise the ECRR curriculum.   The Task Force has already started work on curriculum revision.  The report prepared by Dr. Neuman is considered, by the ALSC/PLA Board, a proprietary work-for-hire and will be used to revise the curriculum and produce new materials.  It will be released at the point in time that the new curriculum/ECRR products are released.   The exact timeframe for release is not known at this time.  When known, the information will be put on the ECRR Web Site.

Questions regarding the evaluation may be directed to the ECRR Evaluation Task Force Chair, Clara Bohrer at bohrercn@wblib.org.

Status Reports

2009 Annual Conference-
ECRR Evaluation Task Force Final Report adopted by the PLA and ALSC Board of Directors (PDF document)

2009 Midwinter Meeting-
ECRR Evaluation Update Report to the PLA and ALSC Board of Directors (MS Word document)

2008 Annual Conference-
ECRR Evaluation Update Report to the PLA and ALSC Board of Directors (MS Word document)

2008 Midwinter Meeting-
ECRR Evaluation Update Report to the PLA and ALSC Board of Directors (MS Word document)