Even Start Family Literacy programs are based on the belief that educating a family, intervening with at least two generations of the family, secures the advancement of parents and children in the present and in the future. Families are the primary stakeholders in the Even Start programs which break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy and poverty.
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EVEN START
(Title I, Part B, Subpart 3)
Overview
This program supports family literacy programs that integrate early childhood education, adult education, parenting education, and literacy activities for low-income families, including parents eligible for services under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and their children from birth through age 7.
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Changes from Current
Law
This program was
reauthorized in December 2000 as part of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2001 (P. L. 106-554), with the
following major changes:
- Research – In
years where the appropriation exceeds the amount
appropriated for the previous fiscal year,
the Secretary is required to reserve $2 million or
50 percent of the excess amount, whichever is less,
for the National Institute for Literacy to carry
out
scientifically based reading research that focuses
on adult literacy. In years where the appropriation
is equal to or less than the amount appropriated
for
the previous fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve
only what is needed to continue multi-year activities.
- Statewide Family
Literacy Activities – Authorizes $1 million
for competitive grants to States for Even Start statewide
family literacy initiatives in years when the appropriation
increases over the previous year. Prior to this reauthorization,
as part of the Reading Excellence Act, the Department
was required to reserve $10 million annually for
this
purpose.
- Technical Assistance
for Family Literacy Services – Adds a provision
that allows States to use a portion of program funds
to help subgrantees to improve the quality of family
literacy services.
- Staff Qualifications – Requires that, within 4 years, the majority
of individuals providing academic instruction in Even
Start whose salaries are paid in whole or in part
with Even Start funds have an associate’s, bachelor’s,
or graduate degree in a field related to early childhood
education, elementary or secondary school education,
or adult education, and, if applicable, meet State
qualifications requirements for those areas; all
new
personnel must meet these requirements beginning
on the effective date of the reauthorization (12/21/00).
In addition, within 4 years, the individual responsible
for the local administration of family literacy services
must have received training in the operation of a
family literacy program, and paraprofessionals who
provide support for academic instruction must have
a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Scientifically
Based Reading Research – Requires that instructional
programs be based on scientifically based reading
research.
- Eligible Participants
– Allows Even Start programs that collaborate
with Title I, Part A programs to expand Even Start
services to children who are 8 years of age or older
if funds from the Part A program are used to contribute
to the cost of providing programs for these children.
The NCLB Act includes
one amendment: Under the 2000 reauthorization of the
program, States may reserve up to 6 percent of funds
for State-level activities, including administration,
technical assistance for program improvement through
a grant or contract, and administering the Indicators
of Program Quality requirements in the law. The reauthorized
ESEA allows States to also use these funds for improving
the quality of family literacy services provided under
Even Start programs.
Accountability
- Local – Requires
a subgrantee to provide for an independent program
evaluation that is to be used for program
improvement.
Allocations
- Federal to State – Formula allocations are based on each State’s
current-year share of Title I, Part A funds, with
a minimum State allocation of the greater of $250,000
or _ of 1 percent.
- State
to Local – SEAs make
competitive subgrants to partnerships of LEAs and
other organizations, giving priority to proposals
that target areas designated as empowerment zones
or enterprise communities or that propose to serve
families in other high-poverty areas.
Set-Asides
- Federal – Requires
6 percent of the annual appropriation for programs
serving migrant children, the outlying areas,
and Indian tribes and tribal organizations if the
appropriated amount for the program exceeds $200
million
(or 5 percent when the appropriation is $200 million
or less). Requires a grant for an Even Start project
in a women's prison. Allows up to 3 percent for
evaluation
and technical assistance.
In years in which
the appropriation exceeds the amount appropriated
for the preceding fiscal year, requires $2 million,
or 50 percent of the excess, whichever is less,
for the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)
to
carry out scientifically based research on family
literacy. When the appropriation is the same
or
less than the preceding year’s appropriation,
requires “sufficient funds” for NIFL
to continue multi-year research projects.
Authorizes $1 million
for competitive grants to States for Even Start statewide
family literacy initiatives in years when the appropriation
increases over the previous year.
- State –
Allows SEAs to reserve up to 6 percent of their allocation
to administer the program; provide technical assistance
for program improvement and replication through subgrants
or contracts; develop indicators of program quality
and monitor, evaluate, and improve programs based
on the State’s indicators; and (beginning with
the 2001 amendment) improve the quality of family
literacy services provided under Even Start programs.
An SEA may use up to half of this reservation for
program administration.
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