Even Start Family Literacy

The Virginia Department of Education administers the Even Start Family Literacy program. This is a federally funded program that is designed to improve the academic achievement of young children and their parents, especially in the area of reading.

Even Start Family Literacy is a family-centered program which embraces the whole family as "the student". It provides participating families with an integrated program of early childhood education, adult education and basic skills instruction, parenting education, and interactive literacy activities between parents and their children. All projects have some home-based instruction and provide for the joint participation of parents and children.

Even Start is a state-administered discretionary program. In addition, the United States Department of Education administers direct discretionary grants to federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations, for migratory families, and to the outlying areas.