New Orleans, LA – Forty-five Prime Time programs will reach 25 parishes this fall, including Jackson Parish, bringing beloved in-person family literacy programs to communities all across Louisiana.
A program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Prime Time programs involve story-sharing around an award-winning children’s book during a weekly session that takes place for six weeks at libraries, schools, churches, community centers, and other local sites. Prime Time Family Reading, for ages 6-10, and Prime Time Preschool Reading, for ages 3-5, encourage families to personally connect with literature and each other and think beyond surface considerations of who, what, when, and where – by using open-ended questioning that spurs and encourages rich discussion across generations. For Preschool Reading, hands-on activities are incorporated to keep younger children engaged.
“This grant has allowed us a constant connection with this community, which is in a high-poverty area that also has a high illiteracy rate,” said Lt. Michael Brooks, who coordinates the program at the Hickley M. Waguespack Center. “The Donaldsonville area has no or very limited family activities. Prime Time is a program that engages the whole family with the meal, dynamic readers, and prizes. This isn’t just a learning experience. It’s actually family entertainment.”
Prime Time programs are free for families and the partner organizations throughout the state that host them. Families also get to keep the books from the sessions to help build their home libraries.
A recent five-year study found that children who participate in Prime Time Preschool Reading consistently finish preschool significantly ahead of their peers, particularly in early literacy and foundational math, while also contributing cognitive skills (such as attention, persistence, and problem solving) that contribute to broader school readiness. In practical terms, Prime Time participation is equivalent to moving a child from the 50th percentile to the 70th percentile in core developmental areas. The program was also recently recognized with the 2025 American Prize by the Library of Congress for its national impact on literacy.
“Although Prime Time has expanded to serve families across the U.S., it is still a Louisiana-grown program that was born to help Louisiana families,” said Miranda Restovic, LEH president and executive director. “We are proud to continue to support Louisiana’s rising literacy rates with our next round of programs and look forward to welcoming new and returning families in the fall.”
About Prime Time, Inc.
Prime Time Inc. offers a set of unique, humanities‐focused and outcomes‐based programs designed to engage new and underserved children and families. Prime Time programs are proven to generate long‐term improvements in family engagement and student academic achievement. All Prime Time based programs offer partner sites such as libraries, schools, museums and other community service agencies research‐based initiatives that directly engage children, parents, teachers, educational administrators and the community in high‐quality family‐focused learning experiences. Learn more at www.primetimefamily.org
About Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is a non‐profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to all residents of the state. Guided by the vision that everyone can realize their full potential through the humanities, LEH partners with communities, institutions and individuals to provide grant‐supported outreach programs, literacy initiatives for all ages, publications, film and radio documentaries, museum exhibitions, public lectures, library projects, 64 Parishes magazine and other diverse public humanities programming. For more information, visit www.leh.org.