Statistics

At Ferst we are always looking for statistics, facts and quotes about early childhood literacy.  Please share any new facts you come across with us so we can share with all CATs.  Below are links to stats we have collected:

Reading aloud research and other statistics

Georgia literacy facts (left side of Media Center page on our main website)

A general list of statistics on Ferst Foundation letterhead


Evaluations

Since 2003, Ferst Foundation, Dollywood Foundation and several communities participating in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library have evaluated the impact the program has made in their county and/or state. 

High/Scope Survey
In 2003, the Dollywood Foundation hired High/Scope Educational Research Foundation to survey all families receiving books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.  Highlights:
  • Parents overwhelmingly reported that The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program was effective at increasing time spent reading with children, making children more interested in books, making parents more comfortable reading to children, and increasing parent awareness of their children’s reading levels.
  • The program appeared to be achieving greatest effects for families that need literacy support the most: those with lower education levels, higher incidence of lone-parents, and with lower total numbers of children’s books.

You can read all their results in the full report (which includes the executive summary).  Some general reading statistics are listed in the body of the report.  You can also view the parent letter and the actual survey if you are interested in surveying your own community and need some direction.


Hart County, GA Survey
In August 2008, the Hart County Community Action Team surveyed the parents of children entering Kindergarten at all three elementary schools in their county.  Hart County found that the Ferst Foundation's program had a "marked positive impact" on those children who had been involved in the program.  The main findings:

  • Children who had been in the program scored on average overall 13.33% higher than children who did not on the school ready entrance test.
  • The Kindergarten teachers, after reviewing their students on reading readiness, found children who had participated in the program were on average overall 55% higher on their reading readiness and an additional 41% were at the same reading readiness.

 

Jasper County, GA Survey
In 2006, Jasper County's Family Connection evaluated the early literacy programs in their community and the impact they made on their children.  Some of their findings:
  • At the aggregate level, the group with the largest gains were those participating in only Ferst Foundation. Their scores improved between Fall and Spring testing an average of 51.5 points.

  • At the individual level, they found that all children who participate in just Ferst Foundation, school readiness scores improved by 15 points as compared to the control group with no known early learning programs.

  • When aggregated, they found those who improved the most were students with developmental disabilities participating only in the Ferst Foundation program with improved readiness scores of over 35 points.


Henry County, GA Survey
In September 2008, Henry County included a survey in their newsletter.  Some of their findings:

  • Parents once in the program were reading more often to their child/children.  Before being the program, 6% never read to their children.  After receiving the books, 93% of the respondents were now reading four times or more per week!
  • 85% of the respondents felt the program was very helpful in preparing their child for kindergarten.

Stephens County, GA Survey
In 2006 the Stephens County Community Action Team surveyed via telephone 110 families in their county receiving books from the Ferst Foundation. 

  • They found an increase across the board in how often parents read to their children after entering in the program including 3% who never read prior to being in the program were now reading to their child/children.
  • 88% of the parents found the program helpful in preparing their child for kindergarten.

 

 

 


Ferst Foundation Surveys

Biannually the Ferst Foundation includes parent surveys in the newsletters that accompany the books. Some of our findings:

October 2008

  • 88% of responders have encouraged other parents in the community to register.
  • 93% of responders and their children are excited about their Ferst books arriving.
  • 97% of responders read to their child/children every day.
  • 3/4 of responders read MORE to their child/children since receiving Ferst books.
  • 9% responded that Ferst books where the FIRST books in their home!
  • 99% of responders feel the Ferst Program IS preparing their child/children for kindergarten.
  • Over 1/3 (36%) of responders visit the library more since entering program.
  • 94% of responders are more likely to shop at a business that supports Ferst program in their community.

 

October 2006
 

 

  • 98% of the families reported reading the newsletters and that the newsletter is helpful
  • 88% families reported that they use the book guide.
  • Through a friend, relative, or work were the most common ways that registered families learned about the Ferst program.
  • 86% of families have encouraged other parents in the community to register.
  • 96% of families reported that their child/children were excited about the arrival of books from Ferst.
  • 99% of families reported that the Ferst program is helpful in preparing their child/children for kindergarten.

You can read the a summary of the questions or if you would like to see all the results, including those specific to your community and the survey questions, please email us at info@ferstfoundation.org and we will send you the spreadsheet.

Allegan County, MI Survey
In October 2006, Allegan County, Michigan completed their evaluation of the Imagination Library program in their community.  Their survey of enrolled families found that:

  • Over 92% of families were "very satisfied" with the Imagination Library program
  • Parents in the program read more frequently to their children with more than 93% reading to their child daily or almost every day regardless of their income level
  • Children in three-fourth of the households were "more enthusiastic about books" now that they were enrolled in the program and 62% reported that their child "asks to be read to more often" as well

The entire report is available if you would like to read.  Due to it's size we can't post on the website but would be happy to email it to you if you contact us at info@ferstfoundation.org.  

Hawaii Survey
In November 2006 the Imagination Library pilot program in Hawaii was examined by the University of Hawaii Center on the Family.  Findings from the evaluation "that participation in IL [Imagination Library] has made a dramatic difference in the frequency of reading to children in the families receiving the IL books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Before receiving IL books, 51.7% of the respondents reported reading to their child once a day or more. After receiving IL books, this percentage increased to 81.3%.
  • Seventy-seven percent of the families who read to their child several times a week before receiving IL books increased their reading frequency to either once a day or more than once a day.
  • Of the families who read to their child once a day before receiving IL books, 96.8% increased their reading frequency to more than once a day.
  • Of the families who read to their child just once a week before receiving IL books, 98% increased their reading frequency after participating in IL. Of these, fifty-two percent of the respondents increased their reading to at least once a day."

The entire report is available if you would like to read. Due to it's size we can't post on the website but would be happy to email it to you if you contact us at info@ferstfoundation.org.

Tennessee Teacher Survey
In fall 2007, the Imagination Library in Tennessee surveyed teachers and received responses from 150 Pre-K teachers and 320 Kindergarten  teachers.  "On the whole, responding teachers observed that Imagination Library participants are better prepared than nonparticipants. Forty-eight percent of Kindergarten teachers and 64% of Pre-K teachers stated that IL participants performed 'better' or 'much better than expected', compared to 10% and 11%, respectively, for nonparticipants performing better or much better than expected."  Click here for highlights.

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