Dear Even Start Coordinator (Superintendent

February 3, 2006

To the Administrator Addressed:

The federal appropriations bill for 2006 has been signed by the President. It includes a 56% reduction in funds for the Even Start Family Literacy Program (Even Start) for the 2006-2007 school year (i.e. September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007). Funding levels for states are expected to be reduced accordingly. The U.S. Department of Education expects to have estimated state Even Start allocations by mid-February 2006.

It is projected that Texas’ budget for the Even Start grant program will decrease from approximately $18 million to approximately $8 million for the 2006-2007 school year. Based on this estimate, TEA does not anticipate hosting a competition for Even Start in the spring of 2006. If your Even Start grant is currently in the fourth year of a funding cycle, you will not have an opportunity to apply for an additional funding cycle.

TEA estimates that it will have the resources to fund all continuation grants at 90% to 100% of current funding levels. In the event that state funding levels are below the estimated $8 million, additional adjustments will be made. These adjustments could include, but are not limited to a) reducing the grant awards by an amount not to exceed 10% of the original grant award; b) funding programs at actual expenditure levels for the 2004-05 grant year; and c) ranking programs according to performance, and then funding as many programs as possible.

Even Start is a year-round program. The 2005-2006 Even Start school year ends August 31, 2006. Acceptance of the Even Start grant is an agreement to deliver services throughout the duration of the grant year, even if the grantee is in the last year of a funding cycle. Texas LEARNS will continue to support all projects during this period of transition.

A TETN broadcast to address sustainability for any program that will not receive federal funds for Even Start in the 2006-2007 school year is in development. The targeted audience will include program directors that are currently running family literacy programs without federal Even Start funding. The broadcast will also cover practical issues such as procedures for closing a federal Even Start grant and disposition of equipment and materials.

Texas LEARNS is available to respond to your questions and concerns regarding funding for 2005-06 and 2006-07 and other program issues. Please contact TEA’s Grant Manager, Carlos Garza at 512-463-9269 or Elizabeth Thompson at Texas LEARNS at 713-696-0700 or 866-696-4233 (toll free).

Sincerely,

Nora Ibañez Hancock, Ed.D. Associate Commissioner Office for Planning, Grants and Evaluation