The Latino Family Literacy Project Collaborates with the University of North Texas to Engage English-Learner Families in the Carrollton Farmers Branch School District

Los Angeles, CA, January 03, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Beginning this month, The Latino Family Literacy Project will collaborate with the University of North Texas (UNT) and bring its award-winning parent involvement program for English Learners to 15 elementary schools in the Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD). During the course of the five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, The Latino Family Literacy Project will train a combined 150 in-service and pre-service teachers with the goal of improving literacy instruction and the family engagement skills of teachers who work with English-learners (ELs) in the district in order to support Spanish-speaking families in literacy activities with their children.

The Latino Family Literacy Project is a White-House award-winner for Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and has trained more than 15,000 teachers throughout the United States to work with Hispanic families to promote early learning, English-language development, home family reading routines, parent involvement in schools, and college awareness.

“We are excited to partner with the University of North Texas,” said Katherine Del Monte, director of The Latino Family Literacy Project and publisher of Lectura Books. "This grant makes it possible to take our professional development program for teachers and link it to coursework at UNT, and a rigorous evaluation framework. For nearly 20 years, we have been working with public schools across the country to support families and their children through our bilingual book publishing, staff development workshops, bilingual curriculum, and English-language development. This U.S. Department of Education grant acknowledges the work that needs to be done in our K-12 public schools and teacher preparation, in order to meet the changing demographics of K-12 in the United States."

The University of North Texas is the lead agency for teacher preparation and is currently working with the Region 10 Educational Service Center and CFBISD Bilingual/ESL Department to provide extensive teacher preparation for the English Learner population. The Latino Family Literacy Project will provide the culminating hands-on parent curriculum and training, with continued teacher support for the parent involvement component of the collaborative efforts.

Title III is the section of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that helps ensure that English Learners achieve English proficiency and meet academic standards. This grant from the U.S. Department of Education is part of that effort and the tripartite partnership between school districts, universities, and professional development providers such as The Latino Family Literacy Project makes it possible to support English-language acquisition and academic success for these students and their families.

For more information and to connect with The Latino Family Literacy project, please visit its website: www.latinoliteracy.com