Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Family Literacy Program in an Under-Resourced Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Yewoon Choi, Nila Uthirasamy, David Córdoba and 7 others
PMID 36750983WHAT IT FOUND
An online bilingual literacy program for Latino families was feasible and acceptable during the pandemic.
Parents valued the ability to participate alongside their children and access healthcare professionals. The study tested feasibility, not whether the program improved children's school readiness or language skills.
Key findings
01Two-thirds of enrolled families participated in at least half of the eight sessions, and 89% completed the program survey.
02Parents identified the bilingual format and synchronous instruction as key strengths that allowed them to participate alongside their children and learn educational habits for the home.
0386% of families experienced technical difficulties, but most were resolved with basic assistance from the research team.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This was a pilot study with a small sample (35 families) from low-income Latino backgrounds, so results may not apply to other populations or settings. The study measured feasibility and acceptability, not the program's effect on children's language, literacy, or school readiness outcomes. High technical difficulty rates (86%) indicate that digital access and support are significant barriers, even if most were resolvable. The study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, a unique context with heightened stress and virtual schooling demands, which may influence how parents valued the program's support.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the NIH and non-U.S. government sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this program improves children's literacy or school readiness. The study only tested whether the program was feasible to run and acceptable to parents; it did not measure child outcomes.