The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, a program of the Barbara Bush Texas

Fund for Family Literacy, announces its 2007 grant competition. This year will mark the 11th annual competition; the grants total for 2007 has been increased from $25,000 to $50,000. Grants of up to $50,000 each are given to help create family literacy programs in Texas by building on existing literacy programs that work with only one generation (i.e., children or adults), so that complete family literacy programs can be created. The grant program also funds innovative projects within existing family literacy programs, as well as replication of successful family literacy programs with new

populations or in new locations. Partnerships with other community groups are strongly encouraged.

Past grantees include community-based organizations, libraries, school districts, community colleges, universities, charter schools, pediatric medical clinics, prison programs, Head Start and Even Start programs, as well as other organizations around the state.

Successful family literacy programs must provide reading instruction for parents or primary caregivers, reading or pre-reading activities for their children, and parent/child reading time and interactions.