A new Penn State research institute will help teach children to read — by teaching parents to read.

The concept is called family literacy, and experts say it can help break the cycle of illiteracy.

Penn State's new Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy will go online later this year with a $6 million grant from the federal government.

The institute is named for retired U.S. Rep. William F. Goodling, a Republican who served Pennsylvania's 19th district and was instrumental in getting funding for literacy programs. He has also been a teacher, principal and superintendent in the York area.

Goodling, who will head the institute's board of advisors, was on campus yesterday for a press conference to announce the program.

He said the institute will help schools and literacy programs do a better job teaching reading.

"We don't have much reliable research on teaching adults and families to read," Goodling said.

Penn State President Graham Spanier said the Goodling Institute fulfills all three of the university's commitments to Pennsylvania: education, research and outreach.

The institute will help provide coursework to teachers, study literacy programs and provide leadership for policymakers.

Penn State's University Park and York campuses will both be involved in the program, said Barbara Van Horn, co-director of the institute.

David Monk, dean of Penn State's College of Education, said the institute was unusual in the way it is funded. The $6 million grant actually supports an endowment that allows the research to continue in the long term.

Penn State already conducts literacy research through the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and will collaborate with the National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville, Ky.

Pennsylvania offers local family literacy programs in every county, supported by both federal and state funds.