Even Start is a family literacy early childhood initiative funded through federal Title I funds.  Eligible families must have a child aged 0-7 years and a parent/guardian who is eligible for adult basic education or is functionally illiterate.  The program must provide adult literacy education, early childhood education and parent/child education.  A school district/public school academy must collaborate with a non-district agency to provide the program.  Funding level is a maximum of $225,000 per year (over the four-year period of the grant) , with increasing local match from 10% to 65%.

This grant program is to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities of the nation's low-income families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program.  A district and a community organization must apply as a collaborative entity.  Increasing matching funds are required of the local grant program during the four-year grant cycle. 

Office of Early Childhood Education & Family Services (517) 373-8483. 

Even Start References and Related Information

General and Federal References

• Even Start Glossary  
• Even Start Guidance   
• Even Start Guide to Quality   
• Even Start Program Elements  
• Even Start Self-Assessment from Guide to Quality  
• Even Start Statute  
• Frequently Asked Even Start Questions  
• OMB Circular A-21   Cost Principles for Educational Institutions (5/10/2004)
• OMB Circular A-87   Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments (5/10/2004)
• OMB Circular A-122   Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations (5/10/2004)
• Recommendations for Hours of Minimum Instruction for Intensive Even Start Services  
• References and Acronyms  
• Rental & Lease, Depreciation and Use Guidance     

Michigan Even Start Program References

• 2008-2009 Even Start Grantees  
• 2008-2009 Income Eligibility Guidelines    
• 2007-2008 Even Start Grantees
• 2006-2007 Even Start Grantees 
• 2006-2007 Michigan Even Start Outcome Indicators  
• "A View from the 4th Floor" (Presentation given by Cheryl Hall at the 4/30/08 Consortium Meeting)  
• Assessment Scores and Educational Functioning Levels - CASAS  
• Assessment Scores and Educational Functioning Levels - TABE  
• Calculation of PEP Scores for Final Data Report   
• Content Standards for GED and ESL
• EFL Definitions  
• Even Start Compliance Monitoring Tool  
• Even Start On-Site Monitoring 2007-2008  
• Even Start Value in Michigan    
• Example of Even Start Project Improvement/
  Implementation Plan   
• Federal and Michigan Guidance on Data Reporting  
• Michigan Even Start 2008-2009 Important Dates  
• Michigan Even Start Highlights Fact Sheet 2004-2005  
• Michigan Even Start Highlights Fact Sheet 2005-2006  
• Michigan Public School Accounting Manual Appendix  (pages 25-32) 
• Program Status Criteria (August 2007)

Important Dates

• November 1, 2008 - Local Evaluator's Report due to MDE
• January 31, 2009 - Interim Data Report available online
• February 2, 2009  - Competitive application available on web
• February 20, 2009 - Interim Data Report due
• February 27, 2009  - Continuation application available on web
• March 20, 2009 - Competitive application due
• April 10, 2009 - Continuation application due
• June 15, 2009 - Final Data Report available online
• July 21, 2009 - Final Data Report due

Forms

• 2008-2009 Even Start Competitive Application
  Instructions  & Forms  or  Forms (Word format)
  Due March 20, 2008
• 2008-2009 Even Start Continuation Application
  Instructions  & Forms  or Forms (Word format)
  Due April 10, 2008

Even Start Resources

Training Opportunities

• October 19-23, 2008 - National Even Start Association Annual Conference, Austin, Texas
• October 22-24, 2008 - Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education Fall Conference, Shanty Creek, Bellaire, Michigan
• November 19, 2008 - Even Start Consortium (Even Start Grantees only), Kellogg Center, East Lansing 
• January 28-30, 2009 - Michigan Collaborative Early Childhood Conference, Dearborn, Michigan
• February 4, 2009 - Even Start Consortium (Even Start Grantees only), Kellogg Center, East Lansing 
• March 1-3, 2009 - National Center for Family Literacy Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida
• March 13-16, 2009 - Michigan Reading Association Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• March 26-28, 2009 - MiAEYC Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan 
• April 29, 2009 - Even Start Consortium (Even Start Grantees only), Kellogg Center, East Lansing
• August 2009 - Even Start Annual Retreat (date and location to be determined) 
• Early Childhood Conferences 2008-2009  

Evaluation

• Common Elements for Local Evaluation   
• Even Start Guide to Local Evaluation - Draft
  The following files are available in PDF format only.
  Chapter 1   Background
  Chapter 2   Framework for Planning Even Start Family Literacy Program Evaluations
  Chapter 3   Participant Learning Outcomes
  Chapter 4   Refining the Program Design
  Chapter 5   Program Content and Implementation
  Chapter 6   Program Intensity and Participant Attendance
  Chapter 7   Learning Milestones
  Chapter 8   Selecting an Independent Evaluator
  Chapter 9   Working with an Evaluator
  Chapter 10   Planning a Focused Inquity
  Chapter 11   Reporting and Using Evaluation Findings
  Chapter 12   State Coordinator's Role in Local Evaluations
  Glossary  
• Slides from the Local Evaluation Workshop of 2-15-06

English Language Learners

• Practitioner Toolkit: Working with Adult English Language Learners   
• Locally-Developed ESL Feedback Form  

Adult Literacy and Education

Early Childhood Education

• Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten   
• Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers  
• School Personnel Guide for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect  
• Unified System of Learning (USL) Trainings   

Parent Education

• NCFL Literacy Calendar  
• Parenting Counts Group Work   
• Parent Education Profile