EVEN START PROGRAM (Family Literacy)
| Purpose: | The purpose of Even Start is to improve the educational opportunities of the Nation's children and adults by integrating early childhood education and adult education for parents into a unified program enabling parents to be their child's first teacher. |
| History: | Even Start became a state program by federal law in 1992 after federal funding exceeded $50 million dollars. |
| Eligibility: | Families with parents who are low income with less than a high school education and children who live in a Title I attendance area are eligible to enroll. |
| Locations: | Even Start is managed by school districts or community based organizations with instruction taking place in schools, community centers, head start facilities, and housing authorities in each county. Even Start Programs are administered by Christina, Appoquinimink, Polytech, Lake Forest, Indian River, Red Clay, West End Neighborhood Center, and Sussex Tech. Other Family Literacy Programs are offered by Red Clay, Wilmington Library - Literacy Volunteers of America and New Start |
| Number of Participants: | There are slightly more than 450 families enrolled annually. |
| Demographic Information: | 100% of the families have economic need and are educationally disadvantaged; the typical family has two children. |
| Program Results: | Family literacy program participants obtain jobs, help their children with school work, and/or apply effective parenting strategies. More than 22 family changes are documented as a result of participation in family literacy programs. |
| Cost to Participants: | There are no charges to the program participant by federal law that prohibits charging students for service. (This program is federally funded. There is a required state/local match ranging from 10% to 65%.) |
| Community Linkages and Public Support: | Linkages and collaborative efforts with social service and other community agencies is a hallmark of this program and mandated by federal law. |
Housing authorities throughout the state provide space for family literacy programs.
For more information, please contact the Deparment of Education at (302) 857-3340.
