A Follow Up Study of Selected South Carolina Parent Education/Family Literacy Projects: 1994.

Overview & Synopsis

This report provides the 1994 follow-up evaluation of the Early Childhood Parent/Education Family Literacy Project in South Carolina, first evaluated in 1993. The objective of the evaluation was a comprehensive review and analysis of program components and elements as designed and implemented by 12 pilot projects. Highlights from the 1993 evaluation of the pilot projects, background information on the evaluation framework for the 1994 follow-up survey, a summary report on the 1994 evaluation, individual profiles of the projects participating in Parent/Education Family Literacy Projects for 12 counties, and recommendations for further parent education/family literacy program development and evaluation are included. Activities of each of the 12 programs are described in the areas of parent education, adult education family literacy, and child and family services. The survey findings indicated that the 12 participating projects have made significant gains since the 1993 evaluation, in terms of increasing services to all families and in refining parent education services, and interagency collaboration. Among the recommendations gleaned from the survey are: (1) that parent education/family literacy programs should continue to expand on areas affecting school readiness; (2) that projects should continue to focus on involving families at risk; and (3) that full integration of parent education/family literacy programs into the community's total family services system and the schools' overall readiness programs should be a priority. (AP)