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As part of the Louisiana Department of Education’s efforts to improve literacy outcomes across the state, the department has recently added Prime Time’s suite of family literacy and engagement programs to their approved list of Family Literacy Support vendors. 

With more than 30 years of success delivering humanities-based, family-focused literacy education programs, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Prime Time programs will offer proven programs to help school districts engage families and build literacy skills. 

“We know that student success starts and flourishes with active engagement with loving adults in their lives. LDOE’s emphasis on family engagement in improving literacy outcomes for all students directly aligns with how we approach humanities education for both children and adults,” said Shelley Stocker, vice president of education programs. “Being approved as a vendor in this work will allow us to bring our proven, turn-key programming to new district partners, and build stronger connections and expand efforts with previous partners. We are excited for the ways these partnerships promise to benefit the children, families, and educators of Louisiana.”

 Prime Time is offering school districts the following programs:

• Prime Time Family Reading and Prime Time Preschool: Prime Time’s core family reading programs promote family bonding and interaction around carefully chosen children’s books and the discussion of the themes found within them.
• HomeRoom: Training is available for both educators and families in Prime Time’s method of using participant-centered instruction, open-ended questioning and collective learning strategies to promote discussion among respectful and diverse audiences.
• Spark Box: The fun of a Prime Time reading program is also available in a box for families to take home. Spark Boxes contain children’s books to build families’ home libraries and a Grown-Up Guide to assist caregivers in guiding discussion of the books, as well as additional learning materials.

The Louisiana Department of Education earlier this year announced it was launching an initiative aimed at sparking a reading revival across the state. The Louisiana Literacy initiative provides system leaders, educators and families with practical tools and resources, such as those provided by Prime Time, to support children on their literacy journey.

“The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities created Prime Time in 1991 specifically to promote literacy and family engagement across Louisiana, so we are thrilled that the Louisiana Department of Education has recognized the importance of this work,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Prime Time, Inc. “We look forward to the opportunity to partner more directly with the teachers and administrators who can make the biggest difference on a daily basis to improve literacy outcomes across our state.”

School districts interested in bringing a Prime Time program to families can contact Stocker at [email protected] for more information.