The percentage of children ages 3 to 5 read to frequently (three or more times in the week preceding the survey) by a family member increased from 78 percent in 1993 to 86 percent in 2005. There were also increases in the percentage of children whose family members frequently told them a story (from 43 to 54 percent); taught them letters, words, or numbers (from 58 to 77 percent); or taught them songs (from 41 to 54 percent).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics

ON THE WEB

YOUR EDUCATION QUESTIONS ANSWERED

For quick answers to frequently asked questions about education, the U.S. Department of Education offers online information on numerous aspects of federal law, policy and initiatives.

The Web site answers.ed.gov answers more than 100 questions, on topics such as No Child Left Behind, financial aid, special education, school choice, grants and research.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, The Achiever, March 2007.

IN HAWAI'I

GRANT FOR PARENTS' RESOURCE CENTER

The private social service agency Parents And Children Together has received a $3.5 million federal grant, spread out over five years, to help administer a resource center for parents.The grant, from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement, will support the Hawai'i Parental Information and Resource Center. HPIRC is targeting programs in 21 schools.

For more information on the program, contact Christina Simmons on O'ahu at 841-6177; Novelyn Hinazumi on Kaua'i at (808) 245-5914; Shannon Ramirez at the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program at (808) 334-4111; Linda Jeffrey in Kona at (808) 327-4300, ext. 432; or Kata Lee on Moloka'i at (808) 646-0546.