REACH Summaries of Research

• The acronym REACH helps in identifying the focus of the study. As we continue to study the impact of parents and families on their students’ success, we are learning that key components are necessary; these components are below. The area emphasized in the specific research summary will be highlighted in pink on the summary.
  
  Respect parent roles and their diversity.
  
  Engagement, not just involvement.
  
  All families want their children to be successful so Ask what they need.
  
  Curriculum of the home.
  
  Help at home with knowledge and skills.
  
  
• Strategy Name identifies the program or strategy being reviewed.
  
  
• Summary of Study provides a synopsis of the information gleaned from the review of the research.
  
  
• REACH Link emphasizes again the area of focus for the study and is noted in pink. For example, if the review addressed a specific strategy or program that supports ways parents can help their children learn at home, the fifth area, Help at home with knowledge and skills, would be noted.
  
  
• Scientifically Based Research Level uses the same standards identified by the Iowa Department of Education.
  
  Level 5 – Gold Standard
  Level 4 – Strong Evidence
  Level 3 – Promising Studies
  Level 2 – Marginal
  Level 1 – No Empirical Evidence
  
  
• Website Links, when available, provide you the web addresses that provide additional information about the program or study we have researched.
  
  
• Target Audience of Strategy identifies the parents that would be most impacted by the program or strategy. For instance, parents of children from birth through adolescence could be the best audience for a specific program or strategy.
  
  
• Training and Follow-up Support for Implementation summarizes the professional development, including follow-up for implementation of the strategy or program, in order for the program or strategy to have a positive impact. Information regarding cost and availability are provided when available.
  
  
• Role of Educators in Implementation emphasizes the role educators would play in the implementation of the program or strategy, including recruitment of participants and marketing of the program or strategy.
  
  

 

	Supporting Resources
	REACH – Basic Parenting, a comprehensive parent education program that focuses on 80 principles and skills that form the foundation for effective parenting. REACH – Book Buddies, a one-on-one community volunteer program that plays an integral role in the goal to ensure that all first and second grade students learn to read and write. REACH – Book Buddies Studyprovides additional information about the study of the program. REACH – Celebrate Families, consisting of eight 90-minute group lessons designed for parents/caregivers and their early elementary-age children. REACH – Family Storyteller, aimed at encouraging and training parents to play a vital role in the literacy development of their children. REACH – Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE), designed to encourage and support low-income ethnically diverse parents of elementary, middle and high school children to take a participatory role in assisting their children. REACH – Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) study focuses on the impact of this not-for-profit community organization in California in increasing parents’ knowledge and skills to support their children’s academic achievement and ultimate enrollment in postsecondary education. Results of the analysis indicate that through the PIQE classes parents were afforded the opportunity to learn about the American school system, the ways they can participate, and activities they can do at home to promote their child’s learning. REACH – Project Early Access to Success in Education (EASE), designed to increase the frequency and quality of language interactions through book-centered activities and to give parents information about and opportunities for engagement in their children’s developing literacy abilities. REACH – Project Ease Study provides additional information about the study of the program. REACH – Stepping Stones for Step Families, a six-part home study course that includes these topics: building a strong couple relationship, maintaining a strong parent and child relationship, developing stepparent and stepchild relationships, understanding financial and legal issues, working with the absent parent and other persons outside the stepfamily, and nourishing the stepfamily in everyday living. REACH – Stepping Stones for Step Families Study provides additional information about the study of the program. REACH – Strengthening Families, a parent, youth and family skills-building curriculum designed to prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems, strengthen parenting skills, and build family strengths. REACH – Strengthening Families Studiesprovide addition information about the study of the program. REACH - TIPS (Teachers Involving Parents in Schoolwork), an interactive homework process involving elementary and middle school students in demonstrating or discussing homework with a family member. REACH – TIPS for Language Arts (Teachers Involving Parents in Schoolwork), summary of a study completed in Baltimore in order to identify the independent effects of TIPS and family involvement on students' writing skills, report card grades, and student and family attitudes toward TIPS at the end of the school year.