9/12/2015 Welcome to the Washington State Even Start Bidders Conference June 2009 Debra Williams-Appleton; ;

9/12/2015 Agenda 10:00-10:45 Overview of Even Start Program 10:45-11:45 Overview of Application and Submission Process 11:45-12:00 Questions and Answers

9/12/2015 Purpose of The Even Start Program To help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and low literacy by improving the educational opportunities of low-income families to ensure school readiness and school success for the children. The program integrates early childhood education, adult literacy (adult basic and secondary-level education, and English language training for parents with limited English proficiency), parenting education, and interactive parent and child literacy activities, into a single, unified family literacy program.

9/12/2015 Overview The new Even Start Program, as authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act, focuses on: Program accountability and Instruction based on scientifically- based reading research.

9/12/2015 Overview: at minimum a successful Even Start project should: Build on high-quality community resources and instructional programs Employ highly qualified staff Provide instructional activities grounded in scientifically- based reading research Document significant literacy achievement results (for adults and children) for the majority of families served Annually make and demonstrate sufficient program and participant progress Implement the 15 required program elements

9/12/2015 Definition of Family Literacy Services Family Literacy Services: (A) Interactive literacy activities between parents and their children (B) Training for parents regarding role as first teacher (C) Parent literacy training (D) Age-appropriate education for children

9/12/2015 The Core Instructional Components Early Childhood Education Parenting Education Adult Education Family Interactive Literacy Activities between parents and their children Home Instruction The Even Start model integrates:

9/12/2015 Collaborators Local Educational Agency (LEA) Community-Based Organizations (CBO) Even Start partnership Even Start partnership Parent Teacher Association Elementary School Public Library Health Clinics Pediatricians Social Service Agencies and Organizations Private Enterprise Community and Technical Colleges Early Care and Education Providers

9/12/2015 Key Players/ Partners: Who You Need to Know? ESEA Federal Programs Title I A,B,C; Title V, etc. Title I preschool ECEAP and/or Head Start Early Childhood Special Education Early Intervention/Part C Local Health Providers Child Care Resource and Referral Community based Early Care and Education providers Community and Technical Colleges/Adult education providers Parent Education Providers

9/12/2015 Eligible Participants A parent or parents – Eligible for services under the Adult Education and family Literacy Act – OR within compulsory school attendance age, LEA provides basic ed – OR Attending Secondary School, requires the LEA to provide basic ed cost The child or children, from birth through age seven, of any individual described above Other family members, as appropriate.

9/12/2015 Eligible Participants Serve those families most in need. Family Literacy programs should help those who need its help the most. You must consider factors such as low income and low adult literacy or English language proficiency, and other risk factors. You determine who is most in need in your community.

9/12/2015 Legislative Requirements: 15 Program Elements: Identification and recruitment of families most in need of Even Start services Screening and preparation of participants Flexible scheduling and support services High-quality intensive instructional programs Special staff qualifications and training Integrated, home-based instructional services Year-round services Coordination with other state and federal programs

9/12/2015 Legislative Requirements: Program Elements: Instructional programs based on scientifically-based reading research Attendance and retention of families Reading readiness instructional strategies and activities based on scientifically-based reading research Continuity of Services/Transition Providing services to families most in need of Even Start Services Local independent evaluation Three year age range for ECE

9/12/2015 Legislative Requirements: Toward Self-Sufficiency Federal matching funds decrease as projects mature.

9/12/2015 Legislative Requirements: Toward Self-Sufficiency (con’t) Federal matching funds decrease and local project’s matching resources increase, as projects mature. Up to 50% Federal Share -- Years 5,6,7,8 – Washington: 50% Year 5, 45% Year 6, 40%Year 7, 35% Year 8 Up to 35% Federal Share -- Year 9, and any subsequent year

9/12/2015 Legislative Requirements: Use of Funds No indirect costs No use of funds for construction

9/12/2015 Federal Performance Indicators/ Required Assessment and Data Reporting Adult Outcomes  Achievement in the areas of reading, writing, English-language acquisition, problem solving, or numeracy.  Receipt of a secondary school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED).  Entry into a postsecondary school, job retraining program, or employment or career advancement, including the military.  Such indicators as the State may develop (parenting). Child Outcomes A.Improvement in ability to read on grade level or reading readiness. B.School attendance. C.Grade retention and promotion.

9/12/2015 Adult Outcomes A) Achievement in the areas of reading, writing, English-language acquisition, problem solving, or numeracy. Demonstrate significant learning gains in reading by improving one level (ABE). Demonstrate significant learning gains in mathematics by improving one level (ABE). Demonstrate significant learning gains in English-language acquisition (listening, speaking, reading, or writing) by improving one level (ESL).

9/12/2015 Adult Outcomes B) Receipt of a secondary school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). Obtain a high school diploma during the program year. Receipt of high school credits during the program year. Obtain a GED during the program year.

9/12/2015 Adult Outcomes C) Entry into a postsecondary school, job retraining program, or employment or career advancement, including the military Improved employability/workplace skills during the program year. Obtain full- or part-time employment during the program year. Keep current employment during the program year. Begin postsecondary education during the program year.

9/12/2015 Adult Outcomes D) Such indicators as the state may develop (parenting). Demonstrate a.3 PEP gain in supporting children’s learning in home environment. Demonstrate a.3 PEP gain in supporting interactive literacy activities. Demonstrate a.3 PEP gain in supporting children’s learning in formal education settings.

9/12/2015 Child Outcomes A) Improvement in ability to read on grade level or reading readiness Current immunizations within 30 days of enrollment. Receive vision, hearing, dental/oral health, and developmental screening when appropriate. Demonstrate significant learning gains in language development (Birth through age 2). Demonstrate significant learning gains in language development and reading readiness (3 to 5 years). Demonstrate age appropriate development of language and reading readiness (K-entry). Demonstrate reading on grade level (school age).

9/12/2015 Child Outcomes B) School attendance Participate in 60 percent of ECE hours offered including home-based instruction and parent and child literacy activities. (birth through age 2). Participate in 85 percent of ECE hours offered including home-based instruction and parent and child literacy activities (3 to 5 years). Attend 90% of school days during each reporting period (school age). C) Grade retention and promotion Be promoted to the next grade level each school year (school age).

9/12/2015 Lessons Learned Even Start is a tough model to implement. Serving most-in-need families, partnering and collaborating with other agencies, delivering integrated and coordinated services, and working with limited resources is a major challenge.

9/12/2015 Lessons Learned Full participation is necessary. Even Start relies on the dynamic interaction between its four core components. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Without family’s full participation in each part, Even Start becomes just another isolated, fragmented program.

9/12/2015 Lessons Learned Even Start is the “glue.” Even Start is about delivering quality education to needy families using existing high-quality community resources. This prevents duplication, but more importantly, it teaches community providers the necessity of working together to comprehensively address the multiple needs of families.

9/12/2015 Lessons Learned Intensity counts. “The amount of instruction received by Even Start participants was related positively to nearly all outcomes measured.” - National Evaluation (1997)

9/12/2015 Lessons Learned Support services are important. Most-in-need families are difficult to serve. Providing appropriate support services (transportation, child care, etc.) makes their participation in Even Start possible.

9/12/2015 Challenges for Improvement in Even Start Family Literacy 1. Recruitment and Retention of Most in Need 2. Intensity: Hours Offered/Hours Participated 3. Focus on Research-based Instructional Strategies 4. Teacher Preparation/Qualifications/ Ongoing Professional Development 5. Screening/ Assessment/Data Collection 6. Improved Local Evaluations – Using Results for Continuous Improvement 7. Accountability for Outcomes

9/12/2015 Available Funding Available Funds$800,000 Range of Awards$150,000–$200,000 per year Average Amount of Awards $180,000 per year Estimated Number of Awards3-4 Minimum $75,000, year 1-8; Minimum $52,500, year 8+ 2 year funding cycle Annual continuation application(as funding is available) Continued annual funding based on demonstrated progress in meeting program and participant outcomes/indicators, fiscal and program management.

9/12/2015 Priority for Funding 1. High percentage or large number of children and families who are in need of Even Start services as indicated by: high levels of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, limited English proficiency, homelessness, or other need related indicators, teen pregnancy student achievement, schools in improvement those needs cannot be met with existing services in the community.

9/12/2015 Priority for Funding 2. Demonstrated capacity to provide high quality instructional programs of enough intensity to make a significant impact on the language and literacy skills learning environments that support language and literacy research-based instructional strategies, activities, and curriculum materials support intended outcomes highly qualified staff local professional development plan supports appropriate assessment practices, research-based instruction and quality leaerning environments.

9/12/2015 What Questions Do You Have? Brainstorm questions as a group Prioritize top 2 questions by site Round Robin 5 minutes per site

9/12/2015 Submission Process Application available electronically, via OSPI iGrants, Federal Competitive Grants at 545z4cnja45))/Default.aspx 545z4cnja45))/Default.aspx Applications must be submitted electronically following the iGrants Even Start Form Completion Instructions, Even Start Framework and Essential Information. Incomplete proposals will not be considered viable and will not be reviewed.

9/12/2015 Review On-line Application iGrants Home Page iGrants Login Information Profile Page (additional resources and links) Instructions for Completion of Even Start Application – Essential Information – Even Start Framework/ Plan of Operation Guidance iGrants Application iGrants Budget Form

9/12/2015 Submission Process Faxed or ed applications not accepted. All required pages and attachments must be submitted electronically in the OSPI iGrants Application System. Due to OSPI by 5:00 p.m. June 29, 2009 Notification by July 9, 2009 Funding will commence on September 1, 2009.

9/12/2015 What Questions Do You Have? Break Brainstorm questions as a group Prioritize top 2 questions by site?

9/12/2015 Thank you