Legislation

Title I, Part B, Subpart 3 - William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Programs

Guidance and Regulations

Regulations governing the Even Start Family Literacy Program can be found on at the Department's website at http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html. These regulations include: Title 34 CFR Parts 74 (fiscal agents that are institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations) 75 (for Direct Grant Programs), or 76 (for State Administered Programs), and 77, 79, 80 (for grantees and fiscal agents that are SEAs, LEAs, or Indian tribes or tribal organizations), 81, 82, 85, 86, and 99, and (EDGAR).
Policy Guidance for the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Programs, Part B, Subpart 3 of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), September 2003
MS WORD (197K)
The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-336) reinstated categorical eligibility for pre-kindergarten Even Start participants participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), beginning October 1, 1998. For additional information, please see the official memorandum from the Director of the Child Nutrition Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
MS WORD (27K)

ED Evaluations and Studies

State Administration of the Even Start Family Literacy Program (2003)
- Highlights of the report:
  PDF (125Kb) | MS WORD (306Kb)
- Full report:
  PDF (834Kb) | MS WORD (1.2MB)
Third National Even Start Evaluation: Program Impacts and Implications for Improvement (2003)
Synthesis of Local and State Even Start Evaluations (2000) Note: This is an archived publication.
National Evaluation of the Even Start Family Literacy Program: Evidence from the Past and a Look to the Future (1998) Note: This is an archived publication.
National Evaluation of the Even Start Family Literacy Program: 1994-1997 Final Report (1998) Note: This is an archived publication.

Unless noted otherwise, the following are U.S. Department of Education publications and are available through ED Pubs--1-877-4ED-PUBS (1-877-433-7827) or 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) TDD or teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-437-0833

ED Publications

Early Childhood Education
- A Child Becomes a Reader (2003)
  These booklets provide ideas from research for parents to help their children become readers when they talk, listen, play and read together. The booklets also give ideas about what effective literacy programs look like in day care centers, preschools, and classrooms.
  - Birth to Preschool
    PDF
  - Kindergarten to Grade 3
    PDF
- Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series (2002)
  This series aims to provide parents with information regarding the first months of a baby's development.
- Teaching Our Youngest, A Guide for Preschool Teachers and Child Care and Family Providers (April 2002)
  This booklet draws from scientifically based research about what can be done to help children to develop their language abilities, increase their knowledge, become familiar with books and other printed materials, learn letters and sounds, recognize numbers and learn to count.
- Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers (2000)
  The National Research Council's executive summary offers a number of suggestions for improving early childhood education in preschool, day care and other settings.
- Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children (December 1998)
  This landmark report of the National Research Council synthesizes the wealth of research on early reading development. It provides an integrated picture of how reading develops and how reading instruction should proceed. The book includes recommendations for practice and further research.
Parenting Education
- How Do I Know a Good Early Reading Program When I See One? -- This guide discusses how parents can recognize a good early reading program in.
- Helping Your Child Series (2002) This series aims to provide parents with the tools and information necessary to help their children succeed in school and life. These booklets feature practical lessons and activities to help school-aged and preschool children master reading, understand the value of homework, and develop the skills necessary to achieve.
- Put Reading First (September 2001)
  These brochures are published by The Partnership for Reading, a collaborative effort of NIFL, NICHD, and the U.S. Department of Education to make evidence-based reading research available to educators, parents, policy-makers, and others with an interest in helping all people learn to read well.
  - The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (K - Gr 3)
  - Helping Your Child Learn to Read, A Parent Guide (PreS - Gr 3)
- Family Involvement in Children's Education: Successful Local Approaches (June 2001) Note: This is an archived publication.
  This Idea Book is offered to stimulate thinking and discussion about how schools can overcome barriers to family involvement in their children's education, regardless of family circumstances or student performance. This publication is based on case studies of 20 successful local education programs.
- Guide to Improving Parenting Education In Even Start Family Literacy Programs (September 2000)
  This guide provides a framework and suggestions for strengthening the quality and impact of parenting education services in Even Start. It is aimed at Even Start State coordinators and local program administrators responsible for supporting and monitoring the quality of parenting education services in Even Start, and at local program staff responsible for designing and implementing parenting education services.
- Starting Out Right (National Research Council, 1998)
  This guide, developed by the National Research Council, explains how children learn to read and how adults can help them. Based on the 1998 National Research Council report, Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children, it provides ideas that parents, educators, policy-makers, and others can use to prevent reading difficulties in early childhood and the primary grades.
Adult Education
- Equipped for the Future Assessment Report: How Instructors Can Support Adult Learners Through Performance-Based Assessment (July 2000)
  Presents information on how instructors can support adult learners through performance-based assessments. Prepared by the National Institute for Literacy, this report introduces the Equipped for the Future Standards, a vehicle for aligning teaching and assessment with preparing adults to carry out everyday activities that are important to adult roles as parents, citizens, and workers.

Related ED and Other Federal Programs

U.S. Department of Education -- The official site for the U.S. Department of Education.
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) -- Describes the work of OESE, which is responsible for the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). This site has links to resources, legislation, policy guidance, and grant applications.
Title I -- Title I is designed to support State and local elementary and secondary school reform efforts tied to challenging State academic standards in order to reinforce and amplify efforts to improve teaching and learning for students farthest from meeting State standards.
Early Reading First -- Early Reading First is a bold new initiative designed to transform existing early education programs into centers of excellence that provide high-quality, early education to young children, especially those from low-income families.
Reading First -- Reading First is a focused nationwide effort to enable all students to become successful early readers. Funds are dedicated to help States and local school districts eliminate the reading deficit by establishing high-quality, comprehensive reading instruction in kindergarten through grade 3.
Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) -- Includes information, research, and resources to help prepare young people and adults for postsecondary education, successful careers, and productive lives. OVAE's activities fall into four areas: High Schools, Career and Technical Education, Community Colleges, and Adult Education and Literacy. Find information on these topics, plus related legislation, grants and other resources.
National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) -- NIFL is a federal organization that shares information about literacy and supports the development of high-quality literacy services to support the development of basic skills.
National Institute of Child Health; Human Development (NICHD).
Office of Head Start -- Head Start is housed in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and serves the child development needs of preschool children (birth through age five) from low-income families and their families.
Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) -- Lists hundreds of Federally supported teaching and learning resources, from more than 35 Federal agencies.

Additional Family Literacy Organizations

Disclaimer -- Non-U.S. Department of Education websites linked by Even Start contain information related to Even Start and are linked as a public service only. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. These are examples of organizations that have information on family literacy services. Other public and private organizations may also have relevant and helpful information and resources. Further, the inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy -- The Barbara Bush Foundation is devoted to supporting the development of family literacy programs through its national grant program, state literacy initiatives, and publications.
Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy -- The mission of the Goodling Institute is to improve family literacy education through research and its application to practice and professional development.
National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) -- NCFL provides professional development services, research and policy analysis, and engages in literacy advocacy in an effort to expand the literacy opportunities for all families nationwide.
National Even Start Association (NESA) -- NESA supports local Even Start projects through professional development opportunities, national conferences, and family literacy advocacy efforts.