EvenStart

Contact Information:
Contact: Chris Dennison, Coordinator of Improvement Initiatives

Phone: 847-888-5000 X4235

Goals/Philosophy:

Even Start U-46, a partnership between School District U-46 and the Two Rivers Head Start Agency offers a high quality integrated family literacy program to 95 families in the U-46 community. This project combines adult education instruction with quality, literacy-based preschool instruction to promote higher levels of student achievement and ongoing self-sufficiency for families. Families identified through Two Rivers will be offered English as a Second Language classes, parenting education, and interactive literacy activities at the Head Start site. Home visits will support the families’ transfer of new knowledge into daily practice. Families unable to attend the daytime events or those who like to include older children will be referred to the evening family literacy programs at one of three different school locations in Elgin. Other families who require childcare for younger siblings will be referred to the morning YWCA English as a Second Language program.

Components of the Even Start Program:

Early Childhood Education – families have several options for early childhood programming.
- Two Rivers Head Start and the Elgin YWCA will provide 4 day/week programs during the same hours and at the same site as adult ESL classes.
- U-46 pre-K program offers a wide variety of classes and schedule options depending on the child’s needs or family request
- Three sites allow families to choose evening ESL classes and enroll their preschool children in evening classes twice each week.
Adult Literacy – activities will be designed to meet the diverse needs of adult learners.
- Daytime ESL classes at Two Rivers Head Start and Elgin YWCA during preschool classes
- Evening classes are available two evenings each week for adults unable to attend daytime classes or who prefer a site with activities that include school-age children
- Spanish GED is available twice each week for adults interested in improving their academic skills in their native language, most adults in this class will enroll in ESL simultaneously.
Parenting Education – parenting education is interwoven into other programming components.
Interactive Literacy Activities between parents and children – activities will also be integrated with other program components. Parents will first learn the skills or strategies needed to work with their children and then use those skills when working with their children.

Listing's Related Category(s):
Programs & Services : EvenStart