Dear Colleagues:

As we enter the twentieth year of Even Start Family Literacy, the challenges to Even Start Family Literacy programs, practitioners and families continue. The year ahead promises a new administration and many new members of Congress as we tackle the reauthorization of Even Start Family Literacy and continue our work on the federal allocations for Even Start programs. Every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election this year and one third of the seats in the Senate are also open. Our members have worked diligently to educate our legislators and inform them of the impact of the Even Start program on families in their communities. Each one of us must make a renewed commitment to actively keep new and continuing legislators informed of the importance of Even Start Family Literacy in our communities.

The resilience of Even Start practitioners and families truly illustrates the principle of continuous improvement. As challenges continue for State Administration and local implementation, the family of Even Start responds with renewed determination to demonstrate that Even Start is an effective educational strategy. The number of programs continues to decrease and many of the programs remaining are struggling to sustain staff and subsequently struggling to retain families. Yet State by State, the success of the Even Start program is documented. Nationally, over seventy percent of our Even Start children are entering kindergarten and achieving significant learning gains on measures of language development; over seventy-five percent of the school-aged children are reading at or above grade level. Even Start children are making significant literacy gains. Ninety-seven percent of the adults in Even Start made significant literacy gains; over eighty percent of the school-aged parents earned their diploma or GED. Adults in Even Start programs stay in the program long enough to reach their goals. Parents are showing significant improvement on measures of parental support for children’s learning.

Even Start is achieving the purpose that was set forth in statute. Each of you has played a part and shown that TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I thank you for your dedication and commitment.

Sue Henry
Chair, Board of Directors

• Susan Henry, Chair - Richmondville, NY
• Brad Everett, Vice Chair – Pekin, IL
• Elizabeth Culver, Treasurer – Durango, CO
• Sandra Howe, Secretary –Westbrook, CT
• Sheryl Barnett – Sioux Falls, SD
• Judy Devey – Prince Frederick, MD
• Denise Gasper – Newaygo, MI
• Scott Himelstein – San Diego, CA
• Nancy Ryan – Newport, RI
• Patty Ball Thomas – Tallahassee, FL
• Susan Underwood – Bigelow, AR
• Sallie Wilson – Sacramento, CA