Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g1BL8Bu08605; Mon, 11 Feb 2002 16:08:11 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 16:08:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <005401c1b340$840e19c0$92fc06d1@ECA> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Linda Warren" <jsflc@rcn.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:748] Re: Budget Request for Even Start X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 4598 Lines: 98 We just completed a three year DOE funded statewide study of 300 Even Start families in Massachusetts. The results will be distributed to our Congressmen and to key constituency groups in the next few weeks. Some of the findings are particularly relevant to this discussion: One has to do with the significant relationship we found between family involvement in the schools and increased achievement in all readiness indicators and behavior indicators of learning. When parents visit classrooms teachers rate student's progress twice as high as the ratings for children whose parents do not visit. This finding was significant at the .05 level (meaning that achievement may be dependent on a number of factors outside of the scientific research reading approaches) A second finding of particular relevance here is the the changes that occur in families and young children --the longer they stay in the program. Families (n=80) who remained in the Even Start program for 18 months or longer were showed significant changes in thier abilities to meet family needs and to depend on others in a wider variety of contexts (self-sufficiency). For families whose average participation was 18 months or longer--87% got new or higher paying jobs earning $10 to $16 an hour with benefits; 62% of their children who took the Massachusetts Statewide Assessment Test passed (a significantly higher rate than non-Even Start children) and 25% were awaiting the results. 87% of the children in these families missed five or less days of school this year. 37% of the parents entered a program of higher education... Knowing this information is not enough. The challenge is getting it to the right people at the right time. I am hoping the Family Literacy Alliance will help. Linda Warren EArly Childhood Associates/JumpStart Family Literacy ----- Original Message ----- From: <MWPotts2001@aol.com> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 12:05 PM Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:739] Re: Budget Request for Even Start > Tony and others who are concerned about this issue: > > How many of you watched Laura Bush on C-Span when she made her eloquent plea > for more dollars, more attention and more action by Congress and the nation > regarding the need for early childhood education? Surely the President > agrees with her, so why the reduction in funds? > > Is it because we have not gone far enough to prove that Even Start and other > Family Literacy Programs have measures of accountability and performance > indicators to demonstrate the growth of families in those traits and > abilities that the Administration is seeking? Case in point: This morning > the Arizona Republic features an article about a local family literacy > program. Caption--An education for the family. While it does mention that > parents study for their GED or adult education skills or English proficiency, > it focuses on children who spend their morning reading out loud, singing, > writing, painting and playing musical instruments. > > We all know that these are literacy producing and enhancing events, but does > Congress (or the general public) know that? I found no mention of the > differences that such early childhood education makes in the lives of these > children. So, my message to program providers is this: Yes, invite > gatekeepers and policy people and newspaper reporters into your sites, but > please share with them that you are providing scientifically based, quality > early childhood education in tandem with research-based adult education that > supports family learning. Point out the significant research (from Hayes and > others) that when Even Start children reach second and third grade, they are > equal to or above the average children in their classrooms on academic and > social measures. Have your own quality measures and outcomes printed on > flyers that you can distribute to those who make these decisions regarding > your program's future. > > Betsy's suggestion about having the adults in your program write their own > letters is a very good one. If you are working with EFF Adult Education St > andards, focus for a while on two critical communication skills: Convey > Ideas in Writing and Speak So Others Can Understand. They will produce > eloquence on their own behalf. > > So, while my blood pressure is high this morning, so is my faith in the Even > Start Program providers and the families they serve. We can reverse this > projected loss of funds. Let's just do it. > > Meta Potts > Glendale, Arizona >
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