The Arkansas Department of Education is announcing the Request for Proposals of new grants for the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program. Funds will be awarded through competitive grants based on the demonstration of effectively implementing the program elements, coordination between service providers, meeting the purpose and grant criteria.
According to Improving America's Schools Act amendments to Public Law 103-382, Part B of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Even Start Family Literacy Programs (20 U.S.C. 6361), as amended in Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) of 1999, and by the Literacy Involves Families Together (LIFT) Act, 2000, as enacted by P.L. 106-554 by the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, 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 of intensive family literacy services:
1. Early Childhood Education
2. Parenting Education
3. Interactive Literacy Activities Between Parents and Children
4. Basic Adult Education/Literacy
Included with this memorandum are the application guidelines, application packet for new funding, 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 in the Arkansas Department of Education on or before August 10, 2001, to: Susan Underwood, Even Start Coordinator; Arkansas Department of Education; #4 Capitol Mall, Room 402-A;
Little Rock, AR 72201.
For questions or additional information, contact Susan Underwood at 501-682-4847 or sunderwood@arkedu.k12.ar.us.