ASPIRE Family Literacy 
ASPIRE (Achieving Success through Parental Involvement, Reading and Education) breaks the cycle of illiteracy and poverty within families by providing comprehensive, integrated literacy services for the entire family.

Strategies
· Parenting classes
· Early childhood education
· Adult education (ESL, GED, computer literacy)
· Home visits
· Intergenerational literacy activities
· Placing parent volunteers in classrooms

Impact
ASPIRE raises literacy levels of adults and children while increasing parents’ ability and confidence in supporting their children’s literacy needs at home and in school.  School district performance data indicate that ASPIRE children academically outperform their peers even years after having left the program.

Services
ASPIRE families have children 0-7 years old, parents in need of ESL and/or GED classes, and live in north Austin (78758), or northeast Austin (78752/78723).  Services are provided on Andrews and Lucy Read campuses.  ASPIRE serves approximately 100 families per year. 

In their own words
"I feel privileged to be a part of this program, and almost all of my goals have been accomplished.  In the course of the year I’ve learned many things, for example the importance of reading to my children… In the ASPIRE program, I’m inspired to excel and to believe in myself.  I have what it takes; I only need the right tools, and it seems I have found them."  Maria Tello, ASPIRE parent, GED earner

Success Rate
· 100% of children promoted (K – 2nd)
· 97% Kindergartners, First and Second grade children met the end-of-the-year reading standard (TPRI/TejasLee/DRA)
· 74% preschoolers made progress on measures of pre-literacy English skills (PPVT)
· 95% parents demonstrated gains in parenting skills (Caldwell & Bradley HOME Inventory);
· 90% ESL students demonstrated gains in English language acquisition (BEST)
· 88% GED/ABE students demonstrated gains in mathematics, reading, or language (TABE)
· 108 families with 165 children were served (birth-2nd grade)
· ASPIRE parents spent an average of 37 hours engaging in their children’s classrooms.

ASPIRE adults have a 6th grade education level upon enrollment on average, and live below federal poverty guidelines.  In 2008-2009, 97% of adults were female, 94% were immigrants with Spanish as a first language.

ASPIRE Volunteer Opportunities
· Literacy Tutor
· Early Childhood Classroom Assistant
· Special Projects Volunteer
· Children's Recreation Activity Leader - Summer Only

All volunteer positions are at Andrews Elementary School at the following times:

• Day: Tuesday - Friday
• Time: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The ASPIRE program is supported by: Austin Community College, The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas,  Genevieve and Ward Orsinger Foundation, Sooch Foundation, Texas Even Start, United Way Capital Area, Webber Family Foundation, Wright Family Foundation.

For more information about ASPIRE volunteer opportunities, please call Jennifer Braham at (512) 464-9767 or email volunteer@cisaustin.org