Authorized through through the Literacy Involves Families Together (LIFT) Act of 2000 and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Even Start is an education program for low-income families designed to improve the academic achievement of young children and their parents, especially in the area of reading. Even Start offers promise for helping to break the cycle of poverty and low literacy by combining four core components:
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Early childhood education
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Adult literacy (adult basic and secondary-level education and/or instruction for English language learners)
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Parenting education
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Interactive literacy activities between parents and their children
Even Start supports family literacy services for parents with low literacy skills or limited English proficiency, and their children, primarily birth through age seven. It contains three goals:
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To help parents improve their literacy or basic educational skills
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To help parents become full partners in educating their children
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To assist children in reaching their full potential as learners
Wyoming is home to five Even Start centers. They are located in Cheyenne, Gillette, Casper, Torrington and Worland. The centers are supported by a combination of state and federal funds. The Wyoming Community College Commission, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, administers the program. Four of the centers, (Cheyenne, Casper, Torrington and Worland), are affiliated with the non-profit organization, NOWCAP of Wyoming. Gillette Even Start is closely associated with Campbell County School District. |
