Latino children make up a large part of the population in the Tampa, Florida schools, but they are not reading as well as expected.
The Hispanic Services Council and the University of South Florida School of Social Work collaboratively developed a community-based research project to explore low reading levels of Latino children and barriers to success.
The research investigated Latino caregivers’ knowledge, cultural attitudes, and experiences related to reading bilingual books with their children. It also examined Latino caregivers’ interpretations of their children’s reading abilities and their perceived need for bilingual books in schools, libraries, and homes.
The resulting LEER con La RED de Padres Activos (Read with the La RED Network of Active Parents) program in the Wimauma and North Tampa communities increased access to bilingual books, developed a parent-child reading program, and improved reading scores.