Toyota Teams with DC Public Schools to Launch Family Literacy Center at Wilkinson ES

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Toyota Teams with DC Public Schools to Launch Family Literacy Center at Wilkinson ES
Elementary School Will Also Get 1,000 New Books through a $2.6 Million Toyota Donation

10/16/2006 Washington, D.C.
October 12, 2006 - Washington, D.C. - The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) in partnership with Toyota and the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL), the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center today launched a new Family Literacy Center at Wilkinson Elementary School in Southeast Washington.

The center, which is designed to bring the school's students (K-3) and their parents together to read and improve literacy skills, is part of the Toyota Family Literacy Program (TFLP). Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $26 million to establish family literacy programs throughout the United States.

The family literacy center at Wilkinson will be funded by a $1.3 million donation from Toyota to be distributed over 10 years. A key component of the center will be to bring parents to the classroom to spend time with their children reading and improving their literacy and other educational and parenting skills. TFLP will be coordinated by the NCFL, the nation's leading advocate for family literacy

Wilkinson will also receive 1,000 new books through another $1.3 million Toyota grant, to be spent over three years, to stock the library shelves of 34 elementary schools, including four public charter schools, in Southeast Washington. In addition, DCPS has allotted $12 million to be spent over the next two years to revitalize libraries at all public elementary schools. This includes renovation of facilities, furniture, books, computers and other technology.

"This new literacy center and the wonderful books that will stock its shelves are perfect complements to one of the goals of our Master Education Plan which is to convert all of our school libraries into state-of-the-art learning centers," said Superintendent Clifford B. Janey. "We've come a long way in improving our libraries/media centers in the last year and more improvements are on the way. This is an important addition to the families and community of Wilkinson."

Already the school system has renovated 48 of its 92 elementary school libraries and 44 more are scheduled to be renovated next year. Janey said the goal is to make school libraries the literacy hub of communities in Washington, D.C. He said the school system's libraries are experiencing a renaissance. His goal is to have at least a part-time librarian/ media specialist at every public school. Already 50 of the positions have been filled.

"We're all in this together," said Sharon Darling, NCFL President and Founder. "The results of a new family literacy program combined with new resources and enhanced facilities here at Wilkinson will be tremendous. The foundation is in place and the scaffolding has been steadied for parents and children to work toward their employment and educational goals."

In already existing NCFL programs throughout the country, several positive outcomes have been observed:

• Reading in the home of participants improves by 80 percent. The majority of adult participants improve literacy scores by one or more levels.
• A high percentage of adults achieve GED equivalency, and adults in the program obtain and keep employment.
• As a result of increases in income or other improvements in family conditions, overall dependence on public assistance decreases by more than one third.
• Teacher ratings of children in the program exceed the ratings of their classroom peers in areas of academic performance, motivation, attendance, classroom behavior, involvement in classroom activities, and other areas of participation.

Today, the Toyota/NCFL partnership accounts for over 196 family literacy sites in 33 cities and 24 states – touching the lives of over one million families.

"We are excited about the impact these literacy programs can have on families in Southeast D.C.," said Michael Rouse, Corporate Manager for Philanthropy and Community Affairs, Toyota Motors Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "It's all about providing the vehicle for people to improve themselves, and there is no better vehicle than education. What we have been impressed with most on this project is the amount of teamwork from many different groups, starting with DCPS. It has been very refreshing – everyone working toward one important goal."

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center are overseeing the restocking of the libraries. By completion in 2008, every public elementary school in Southeast Washington (15,000 students) will have the books in place as well as other materials that support improved family literacy in school communities.