Inkster Family Literacy Movement: Year Three Evaluation Report

The Starfish Family Services Inkster Family Literacy Movement (IFLM) focuses on improving the language and cognitive development, and communication skills of young children in Inkster, MI through community engagement and campaigns, and a coordinated continuum of family literacy programs, services and events. 

This report gives an overview of the internal evaluation (focused on program metrics) and an external evaluation that consisted of a survey, focus groups, staff interviews and quasi-experimental design of the Children Observation Record (COR) Advantage assessment given to all children enrolled in Head Start through Starfish Family Services. 

The study found that:

• IFLM met targets for programming and participants were satisfied with their experience, although coordination with partners could be improved; and
• Data from Year 2 indicated that IFLM participants who also participated in Starfish Head Start scored higher on kindergarten readiness assessments when compared to non-Inkster Head Start children.