The Even Start Office of the School Improvement and Professional Development Section of the Department of Education is announcing the request for proposals for new and continuation grants of the Even Start Family Literacy Program. There are funds available for one to three new grant awards and to continue current programs that demonstrate sufficient progress toward meeting the goals of the Even Start Family Literacy Program.
According to Improving America's Schools Act amendments to Public Law 103-382, Even Start Family Literacy Programs (20 U.S.C. 6361), as amended in Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) of 1999, the purpose of this 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, to be referred to as 'Even Start'."
The Even Start Family Literacy Project application must contain the four components:
1. Early Childhood Education
2. Parenting Education
3. Adult Literacy
4. Basic Adult Education
A review panel has been established to review the applications and recommend funding in accordance with the Even Start Family Literacy Program statute, PL 103-382, Part B, Section 1208 (a)(3). Included with this memorandum is the request for Even Start Family Literacy Proposals, the grant applicant packet, Even Start Regulations and reference and resource materials. Faxed copies of the application will not be accepted. The original and four copies of the application must be received at the Arkansas Department of Education on or before August 11, 2000, to: Susan Underwood, Even Start Coordinator; Arkansas Department of Education; #4 Capitol Mall, Room 302-B; Little Rock, AR 72201.