This grant 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.  A district and a community organization must apply as a collaborative entity.  Increasing matching funds are required of the local grant program during the four-year grant cycle. 

Office of Early Childhood Education & Family Services (517) 373-8483. 

Even Start References and Related Information

General and Federal References

• Even Start Glossary  
• Even Start Guidance  
• Even Start Guide to Quality  
• Even Start Program Elements  
• Even Start Self-Assessment from Guide to Quality 
• Even Start Statute  
• Frequently Asked Even Start Questions  
• OMB Circular A-21   Cost Principles for Educational Institutions (5/10/2004)
• OMB Circular A-87   Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments (5/10/2004)
• OMB Circular A-122   Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations (5/10/2004)
• Recommendations for Hours of Minimum Instruction for Intensive Even Start Services
• References and Acronyms  
• Rental & Lease, Depreciation and Use Guidance   
  

Michigan Even Start Program References

• 2008-2009 Even Start Grantees 
• 2008-2009 Income Eligibility Guidelines  
• 2007-2008 Even Start Grantees
• 2006-2007 Even Start Grantees 
• 2006-2007 Michigan Even Start Outcome Indicators
• "A View from the 4th Floor" (Presentation given by Cheryl Hall at the 4/30/08 Consortium Meeting) 
• Assessment Scores and Educational Functioning Levels - CASAS 
• Assessment Scores and Educational Functioning Levels - TABE 
• Calculation of PEP Scores for Final Data Report  
• Content Standards for GED and ESL
• EFL Definitions 
• Even Start Compliance Monitoring Tool
• Even Start On-Site Monitoring 2007-2008
• Even Start Value in Michigan  
• Example of Even Start Project Improvement/
  Implementation Plan  
• Federal and Michigan Guidance on Data Reporting
• Michigan Even Start Dates for 2007-2008  
• Michigan Even Start Highlights Fact Sheet 2004-2005
• Michigan Even Start Highlights Fact Sheet 2005-2006 
• Michigan Public School Accounting Manual Appendix (pages 25-32) 
• Program Status Criteria (August 2007)

Important Dates

• Coming soon!  (week of June 23, 2008) - Final Data Report available online
• July 21, 2008 - Final Data due
• November 1, 2008 - Local Evaluator's Report Due to MDE
  

Forms

• 2008-2009 Even Start Competitive Application
  Instructions  & Forms  or  Forms (Word format)
  Due March 20, 2008
• 2008-2009 Even Start Continuation Application
  Instructions  & Forms  or Forms (Word format)
  Due April 10, 2008
  

Even Start Resources

Training Opportunities

• August 11-13, 2008 - Even Start Retreat (Even Start Grantees only), Treetops Resort, Treetops Village, MI
• November 19, 2008 - Even Start Consortium (Even Start Grantees only)
• February 4, 2009 - Even Start Consortium (Even Start Grantees only)
• April 29, 2009 - Even Start Consortium (Even Start Grantees only)
• Early Childhood Conferences 2008-2009 

Evaluation

• Common Elements for Local Evaluation  
• Even Start Guide to Local Evaluation - Draft
  The following files are available in PDF format only.
  Chapter 1  Background
  Chapter 2  Framework for Planning Even Start Family Literacy Program Evaluations
  Chapter 3  Participant Learning Outcomes
  Chapter 4  Refining the Program Design
  Chapter 5  Program Content and Implementation
  Chapter 6  Program Intensity and Participant Attendance
  Chapter 7  Learning Milestones
  Chapter 8  Selecting an Independent Evaluator
  Chapter 9  Working with an Evaluator
  Chapter 10  Planning a Focused Inquity
  Chapter 11  Reporting and Using Evaluation Findings
  Chapter 12  State Coordinator's Role in Local Evaluations
  Glossary 
• Slides from the Local Evaluation Workshop of 2-15-06

English Language Learners

• Practitioner Toolkit: Working with Adult English Language Learners  
• Locally-Developed ESL Feedback Form  

Adult Literacy and Education

• TABE Information  

Early Childhood Education

• Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten  
• Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers 
• School Personnel Guide for Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect 
• Unified System of Learning (USL) Trainings   

Parent Education

• NCFL Literacy Calendar
• Parenting Counts Group Work  
• Parent Education Profile