The National Even Start Association Board Chairman, Mr. Scott Himelstein, gave some welcoming remarks and a legislative update. He thanked the United States Department of Education for its collaboration in these inaugural academies. He requested that all participants think about their individual programs and personnel needs as they work through the academy experience and then provide the Association staff with those suggestions for future academy themes.

Pat McKee was introduced and presented greetings from the Department of Education. She expressed her joy at being a part of a wonderful opportunity to learn from each other. She then introduced her department members, Doris Sligh and Laura Chow. Pat provided each participant with a copy of the National Research Council's publication, "Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children's Reading Success."

Session I: Dr. Grover Whitehurst 
"Preparing Children in Even Start to Learn to Read" 

Session II: Dr. Peg Griffin 
"Limited English Proficient Children" 

Session III: Dr. Chris Lonigan
"Parent and Child Literacy Instruction in Even Start Programs" 

Session IV: Q&A For Even Start Grantees Patricia McKee, Doris Sligh and Laura Chow, United State Department of Education