Frequently Asked Questions

Who Are We?

The FAMILY LITERACY program began in January 2000. It was established and it was funded partially by a federal grant that served local families in our community. The program now resides under the Plano ISD and is a support program through the Family and Student Services Department. It works in conjunction with the district and other community partners.

Where Are We?

Plano. Located on the east side of the city, the program is housed in a building owned by the Plano ISD, The Alan Bird Education Center. The physical address is 1300 19th Street. The facility is located close to many of the families served. Families walk to the facility or provide their own transportation.

When Are Classes?

Classes are held Monday – Friday. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are day time hours. Thursday classes are in the evening with an optional night on Wednesday evening for additional assistance to both adult and children students. All participants are involved in all components of the program.

Who Is Eligible?

Families that: 1)Reside in Plano School District 2) Can commit to all program hours 3) Have low literacy and a need for literacy instruction 4) Meet financial requirements

What Is Family Literacy?

English literacy and life skills instruction to raise the education level of parents
Early Childhood Education for future academic success
Parent Education for support and parenting strategies

SUMMARY

EVEN START was developed through an act of congress in the early 1980;s with the assistance of Congressman William Goodling. The program’s purpose was to help to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities of the nations low-income families. Through integrating early childhood education, adult education, parent education and ILA the program unifies a whole family literacy program. The federal government put forth a statement that a true family literacy program possesses these 4 components and is long enough in time and duration to make a significant change in the family. Self sufficiency is the ultimate goal of the program.

It was further established that the program would migrate from an almost exclusively federal funded program into a community based program where the surrounding public and private partnerships would build to sustain itself. This idea was meant to accomplish community buy in for family literacy across the nation.