2005-2006

What is the Even Start Family Literacy Program?

Texas Even Start is federally funded and utilizes a family-centered education model that improves the academic achievement of young children and the literacy skills of their parents in order to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Texas Even Start programs serve families that are the most economically disadvantaged and have the lowest levels of adult literacy in the state. In 2005-06, 99% of parents participating had less than a ninth grade education; 70% of the participating parents were between the ages of 25-44. Even Start integrates all of the following activities into a unified family literacy program:

• Training for parents on how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children
• Parent literacy education that leads to economic self-sufficiency
• Age-appropriate education to prepare children for success in school and life experiences
• Interactive literacy activities between parents and their children that transfer educational concepts and values into the home and family

Texas Even Start Family Literacy dollars are currently being used to provide scientific research-based, year-round, instructional activities and enrichment services.

How do Texas Families Participate in the Even Start Family Literacy Program?

An eligible Even Start family must qualify for free and reduced lunch under Title I, have at least one parent who either needs a GED/high school diploma or has not yet mastered English, and have at least one child under the age of 8. School-aged parents are also eligible to participate with their children in Even Start as long as the local school district provides the basic education component for the parent.

There were 88 programs with 161 sites across Texas in the last school year of 2005-2006. Despite funding cuts in the past three years, Texas has exceeded their target goal of families served, while significantly increasing performance. Texas served 5,420 families in 2005-2006, exceeding its goal by 16%. According to the most recent national data, Texas served an impressive 16.5% of the total number of Even Start children served in the nation. Out of the 9,241 Texas children participating, 72% of the children were birth to five years old and 57% came from families that did not speak English at home.

Who Provides Even Start Family Literacy Instruction in Texas?

Even Start grants are awarded competitively to applicants who demonstrate proven effectiveness in providing family literacy services. Eligible applicants include: local education agencies, community-based organizations including volunteer literacy organizations, institutions of higher education, and public and private non-profit agencies and institutions. Providers in 2005-2006 were 62 independent school districts, 2 education service centers, 1 public charter school, 22 public or private nonprofit organizations, and 1 higher education institution.

What are the Outcomes of Texas Even Start Family Literacy?

• 56% of the families enrolled in 2005-2006 stayed at least 7 months or longer; scientifically-based research shows prolonged participation equals higher performance in educational gains.
• 73% of Even Start adults still advanced at least one or more academic levels last year even though mandatory school attendance laws do not apply to adults.
• 92% of Even Start kindergarteners and 90% of 1st and 2nd graders met or exceeded the standard on district-selected reading assessments, a remarkable achievement considering 57% of Even Start families are non-native English speakers.
• Even Start children in grades kindergarten through 2nd were promoted to the next grade at higher rates than the state average with 99.27% for kindergarteners, 95.08% for 1st graders, and 97.51% for 2nd graders in 2005-2006.
• 96% of the Even Start adults enrolled reported that they improved their parenting skills in 2005-2006.
• 72% of Even Start parents self-reported that they retained a job or advanced on the job and 56% of the parents self-reported that they entered the workforce after participating in Even Start in 2005-2006.

What is the Even Start Family Literacy Investment in Texas?

Even Start programs apply for a fixed amount of federal funds. Local share/match is required for each program and the local share requirement increases with each year of implementation. The United States Congress appropriated $225,094,720 Even Start funds for the entire nation in 2005-2006. The total federal grant amount awarded to Texas for all 88 programs in 2005-2006 was $16,468,206 and the total local match for the state was $14,518,856. Due to the budget cuts made in November 2004, Texas Even Start was cut by 7% for the 2005-06 school year and Texas received $1,423,764 less than the previous year. Additionally, there was a 56% reduction in Texas for the 2006-2007 school year, resulting in the discontinuation of funding for 24 Even Start programs in Texas. Of the 24 Even Start programs discontinued, there were 35 sites closed and a loss of services to approximately 1,443 families.