Recasting the role of family involvement in early literacy development: A response to the NELP report

The authors argue that the findings from the National Early Literacy Panel (NELP; 2008) report related to parent involvement and family literacy programs require further clarification. Based on an ideological view of literacy, the authors offer three recommendations that would provide a more accurate representation of parent involvement and family literacy programs and the families they serve, as well as enhance the findings of the NELP report: (a) Create an expanded definition of parent involvement and family literacy programs, (b) include programs that are familial and culturally competent, and (c) develop expanded matrices for evaluating family literacy programs that reflect a more inclusive measure of effectiveness.