Even Start History, Funding, and Congressional Support

Letters, funding spreadsheets, and other resources containing facts documenting the advocacy history, funding levels, and Congressional support for saving Even Start.

FY 2010 Appeal for Senate Even Start Funding
Congressman Bill Goodling makes an appeal in a letter to Senators requesting increased funding for Even Start above the $66 Million amount set by the House Subcommittee for 2010.

FY2010 House Appropriations Report Language for Even Start
Report language was included in the House Committee-passed bill for fiscal year 2010 concerning continued funding for Even Start. Advocates may wish to adapt this language when making the case to save Even Start with Members of Congress.

FY 2010 The Honorable Bill Goodling’s Testimony on Even Start
Congressman Bill Goodling submitted written testimony for the FY 2010 Education Appropriation before the House Appropriations Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. In his testimony he argues for the effectiveness of family literacy programs and for continued funding for Even Start.

FY 2010 Yarmuth-Platts Approprations Request
Congressman Yarmuth and Congressman Platts wrote the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee urging them to include $150 million for Even Start in the House appropriations bill. This letter is useful for advocates seeking talking points on saving Even Start. It also is a sample letter for other Members of Congress writing similar letters in support of Even Start.

FY2010 Department of Education Letter on Why Cut Even Start
A letter from Joseph Conaty to Congressman Bill Goodling describes the Department of Education’s position on why they recommended cutting Even Start for FY2010.

FY2010 Response from Congressman Bill Goodling to the Department of Education’s Letter on Why Cut Even Start
Congressman Bill Goodling offers a rebuttal to the Department of Education on their proposal to cut Even Start.

2005 Response to Administration’s Proposed Elimination of the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program
The Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy responds the Bush Administration’s proposed elimination of Even Start, citing that the President relied on evaluations that predated new accountability measures for the program and that these evaluations were not representative of Even Start participants and programs. Even Start participants enter the program with literacy levels far below their counterparts in any other federally-funded preschool program.

2002-2003 US Department of Education Statistics on Even Start Participants
The U.S. Department of Education cites compelling statistics to show that Even Start serves our most-in-need families.

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