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A new report highlights Prime Time in Northwest Louisiana as a vital anchor in the region’s expanding educational ecosystem, delivering measurable academic and social benefits to thousands of local families.  

An initiative of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Prime Time’s unique two-generational approach— which brings young children and their caregivers together with community facilitators for shared meals, guided story reading, discussion and play-based learning—addresses the home literacy environment, one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic success. Using beautifully illustrated, award-winning children’s books with culturally diverse stories and themes, trained facilitators read aloud and then lead discussions and interactive activities that promote literacy and critical-thinking skills. By reinforcing the bond between caregiver and child through critical thinking, Prime Time acts as a structured bridge between the classroom and the home. 

“Literacy is far more than an academic score—it is the foundation for empathy, critical thinking, and lifelong curiosity,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the LEH and Prime Time, Inc. “This study confirms that when we support the entire family we don’t just raise reading benchmarks, we ignite a joy for reading that strengthens families and communities for generations, while achieving the goal of improving literacy and academic scores as well.” 

Since its inception in Northwest Louisiana, Prime Time has served 6,992 families across 548 programs, successfully connecting classroom learning with engaging home reading practices. 

The study, funded by the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, utilized family focus groups and surveys collected over a period of five years from families in Caddo and Bossier parishes. It found that Prime Time’s family-centered approach drives tangible behavioral and emotional growth: 

• Increased Literacy Behaviors: More than 83 percent of recently participating families demonstrated a clear increase in active home literacy behaviors. 

• School ties: Nearly 36 percent of families reported a better relationship with their child’s school following the program. 

• Holistic Development: Caregivers reported noticeable gains in children’s empathy, perspective-taking, imagination, and interpersonal relationships with peers and family. Nearly 54 percent reported an increase in critical thinking. 

• Inclusive Support: The program enhanced literacy for children regardless of their learning needs, offering critical support to students who struggle in traditional classroom settings. 

Prime Time’s achievements align with wider educational growth across the region, including recent literacy and numeracy gains in Caddo Parish schools. Operating alongside local schools, community-based programs, and home supports, Prime Time serves as a cornerstone within a collaborative network dedicated to fostering enthusiastic, lifelong readers. 

“Starting as a new teacher piloting Prime Time at Northside Elementary, I fell in love with how deeply the program engages families in literature and conversation. Over the past decade, I’ve seen Prime Time not only bridge the gap between the classroom and the living room, but also create safe, welcoming spaces where every voice matters,” said Kasie Henderson, regional training coordinator and Prime Time family literacy and district literacy content mentor for the Caddo Parish School Board. “I’ll never forget watching a grandmother move from sitting silently in the back to sharing her perspective front and center, because she felt heard, valued, and part of a true community. Through inquiry-based strategies, books like Fanny’s Dream, and the relationships we build, Prime Time fosters a thriving literacy ecosystem across Caddo Parish and Louisiana—one where families are empowered as lifelong learners and community partners.” 

When surveyed about areas for improvement, families responded consistently: more Prime Time. They requested more sites and extended hours and days, meetings at every neighborhood library and elementary school, and programming during school vacations. 

“Community Foundation of North Louisiana is proud to continue our support for Prime Time in North Louisiana,” said Kristi Gustavson, CEO of CFNLA. “The results of the recent survey demonstrate that Prime Time not only fosters key literacy skills for young learners but also empowers and strengthens families as they learn and achieve together. Through our Early Childhood Education Scholarship Initiative, CFNLA is working to improve kindergarten readiness in North Louisiana by increasing access to high-quality early childhood education opportunities. Our community is fortunate to have LEH’s Prime Time program as part of our educational infrastructure as we work to encourage literacy, improve kindergarten readiness, and prepare all students to perform to their full potential throughout their educational careers.” 

Prime Time programs are currently kicking off across Louisiana, including seven programs in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Find a program or view the full study.