PRIME TIME in Louisiana
A unique, humanities-based family literacy program, PRIME TIME has been a program of choice among Louisiana librarians, educators, and educational program administrators since 1991. PRIME TIME program grants are awarded twice annually to eligible sites throughout the state. Louisiana sites are either recruited by staff or signal their interest by contacting a staff person. A complete application along with community support letters must be submitted on or ahead of provided deadlines for consideration. Call (504) 620-2486 for more information.

Program Description
Once a week for six weeks or eight weeks, you will open your doors to 25 families—low income, low-literacy, 6-10 year-old children and their parents/guardians who are at-risk due to low reading abilities. During each 90 minute session, the families will share a meal or snack, engage in rigorous, thought-provoking humanities-based storytelling and discussion lead by a storyteller and a university scholar using children’s literature, and learn about the resources available to them at the site and the public library.

Eligibility
Eligible sites are libraries, schools, community centers, museums, churches, and other venues currently serving PRIME TIME’s target population.

Requirements
Eligible sites should prepare to do the following during the application and implementation process:

1. Meet all deadlines associated with program data collection and reporting.
2. Execute all program components as indicated on the application.
3. Provide a space or room in which the program can take place comfortably and peacefully
4. Identify qualified professionals to fill site-specific program roles
5. Ensure that the professionals chosen to fill program roles are willing/able to attend a two-day training workshop in New Orleans (the LEH covers travel and hotel costs)

Application Process
Interested agencies should contact any PRIME TIME staff member for details on the program and upcoming grant application deadlines. Complete and submit a PRIME TIME grant application along with evidence of community support for the project on or before the provided deadline. The PRIME TIME staff will review each application carefully and issue decisions within two weeks of the deadline. Whether accepted or approved, applicants are notified by PRIME TIME via notification letters. Agencies whose applications were denied will be encouraged to re-apply for upcoming terms. If the application has been accepted, an invitation for the chosen professionals to attend a PRIME TIME Training workshop (January or August) will be extended to the site.

After successful completion of a PRIME TIME program, sites with trained team members are free to submit new applications for consideration. Only new team members need to attend future Training Workshops. For additional details on qualifications and responsibilities of each team member, click here or for a PRIME TIME grant application click here. Grant applications are accepted for Fall and Spring terms with two annual deadlines on or around the preceding April 15 and October 15, respectively. For more information and details on deadlines, call (504) 620-2486 or visit http://www.leh.org/html/primetime.html.