Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g1BJk0u05260; Mon, 11 Feb 2002 14:46:00 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 14:46:00 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <sc67d75f.098@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:2015] Even-Start funding cuts X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="=_9EC3C7BF.36573CE0" X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.6.1 Status: O Content-Length: 11463 Lines: 248 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Those of you who are interested in family literacy, may be upset to hear that President Bush is proposing a budget cut in Even Start funding. If you are upset, I urge you to write letters to Congress and to the President. The National Center for Family Literacy has advocacy information on their website to help you through the process of political advocacy. That website address is: http://www.famlit.org/policy/advocacy.html This is also a great time to get your learners involved in writing letters. Here is a reaction to the proposed funding cuts by The National Center for Family Literacy (I have cut and pasted this from NIFL-Family listserv): February 8, 2002 The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) is disappointed in the Administration's fiscal year 2003 budget request for the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program. While the Administration suggests that Even Start has produced "mixed" results, the experience of tens of thousands of families as well as impartial evaluations suggests just the opposite. "I was concerned to learn that the President's budget included a $50 million reduction in Even Start funding," said Sharon Darling, NCFL president. Darling added, "We know the value of well-implemented Even Start programs and will work hard to maintain support in Congress for Even Start so that families will continue to receive quality services." Even Start, begun with bipartisan support in 1988, has touched the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children and their parents. Recognizing that parents are a child's first and most important teacher, Even Start provides adult literacy training along with childhood education to provide for a family learning experience. This is important because children who live with parents lacking literacy skills do not have the same educational chances as other children. Through Even Start, families that learn together succeed together. NCFL disagrees with the Administration's assumption that Even Start is ineffective. Numerous studies and evaluations of family literacy programs, including Even Start, have shown that with sufficient intensity and duration, quality family literacy services yield both short and long-term impacts for children and their parents. A study by Dr. Andrew Hayes, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, found strong evidence of the power of Even Start. In his study, Even Start children rated average or above in their class (grades K-5): *67% on overall academic performance *78% on motivation to learn *75% on probable success in school *90% show satisfactory grades in reading, language and mathematics Parents also made significant improvements: *45% of those on public assistance reduced the amount they receive, or ceased to receive aid altogether. *40% enrolled in some higher education or training program. *54% seeking education credentials received the GED or its equivalent. These statistics are astounding considering that Even Start recruits and serves parents who are functioning at the lowest levels of literacy. Thanks to these results and the families served, bipartisan support in Congress remains strong for Even Start and family literacy. Numerous members of Congress praised Even Start during the passage of the Literacy Involves Families Together (LIFT) Act, which reauthorized Even Start in 2000. Also, the recent inclusion of family literacy services as a critical element in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act illustrates the Congressional support for this important program. In the national effort to "Leave No Child Behind," there is no better complement to the Reading First program than family literacy to make certain that parents have the literacy and English skills to support the reading and educational development of their children. Even Start programs are serving the children most at risk of being "left behind." Even Start proves that a legacy of success can be accomplished when we help all parents get the skills and knowledge they need to improve their lives and participate in their child's education. The National Center for Family Literacy has pioneered an educational approach that combines children's education, adult literacy education, parenting education and structured literacy activities between parents and their children. NCFL works to ensure that all families at the lowest ends of both the literacy and economic continua will have opportunities to improve their education, employment and social well-being through quality family literacy programs. For more information, please visit NCFL's Web site: www.famlit.org or call the Family Literacy InfoLine: 1-877-FAMLIT-1 Daphne Greenberg Associate Director Center for the Study of Adult Literacy Georgia State University University Plaza Atlanta, GA 30303-3083 phone: 404-651-0127 fax:404-651-4901 dgreenberg@gsu.edu
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