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Even Start program in financial trouble
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| Children involved in the School District of Beloit’s Even Start program perform for their families Friday. The program, which has educated adults for 17 years, may not last past this school year because federal funds are dwindling. Staff photo by Ashley Rhodebeck |
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
Children from about 60 families gathered at Burdge Elementary School Friday to present Even Start's end-of-the-year production, and it may be one of the program's last.
The School District of Beloit has the largest and one of the oldest Even Start programs in Wisconsin, serving 135 to 150 families.
People of all demographics can participate, but district employees say the majority are Hispanic.
For 17 years, adults with little or no education have been able to earn their GED, and those with few English skills have learned the language.
The program provides child care for those with kids not yet old enough for kindergarten and prepares the children for Beloit's education system.
A nighttime component also offers homework help to school-age children.
Patricia Cervantes began participating in the program two years ago. She started without any English skills because she had lived in Texas and California, states with large Spanish-speaking populations.
As a mother of two daughters, ages 5 and 2, Cervantes needs to take her children with her wherever she goes, and Even Start let her pursue her education by offering day care. It's also helping her daughters learn English so that they will be on the same level as native-born speakers once they enter kindergarten.
Rosa Guzman earned her GED through Even Start and has not yet mastered English, but has learned enough so she can go to the doctor's office, among other places, without needing a translator.
Although the program has helped many - probably hundreds - it is at risk because the Bush Administration hasn't given family programming priority, said Monica Notaro, the state's Even Start coordinator.
Wisconsin once had 23 programs, but with federal budgets cut almost 70 percent, the state is down to nine, Notaro said.
The 2008-‘09 year will most likely be Even Start's last at Beloit because the federal government has not renewed the program's grant, said Fran Fruzen, the safe and drug-free schools coordinator. He was told any leftover grant money will probably go to Milwaukee Public Schools.
Between the Even Start and 21st Century grants, Beloit received about $200,000 for the program, Fruzen said.
Because of Beloit's partnership with Blackhawk Technical College and association with Title I and 21st Century grants, Notaro said the district has a good chance continuing some of the program's concepts.
Within the next few weeks, Fruzen plans to ask district officials if they can reconfigure Even Start so that Beloit can salvage some of its aspects.
“To have that program end would, I think, be tragic,” Fruzen said.
Notaro agreed and spoke of the program's positive effects: participants can use the education to obtain better jobs, they feel a sense of belonging in the community and parents become more involved in their children's schools.
“Adults are learning, children are learning, and we're changing the community because of it,” Notaro said.
Daily News staff writer
Children from about 60 families gathered at Burdge Elementary School Friday to present Even Start's end-of-the-year production, and it may be one of the program's last.
The School District of Beloit has the largest and one of the oldest Even Start programs in Wisconsin, serving 135 to 150 families.
People of all demographics can participate, but district employees say the majority are Hispanic.
For 17 years, adults with little or no education have been able to earn their GED, and those with few English skills have learned the language.
The program provides child care for those with kids not yet old enough for kindergarten and prepares the children for Beloit's education system.
A nighttime component also offers homework help to school-age children.
Patricia Cervantes began participating in the program two years ago. She started without any English skills because she had lived in Texas and California, states with large Spanish-speaking populations.
As a mother of two daughters, ages 5 and 2, Cervantes needs to take her children with her wherever she goes, and Even Start let her pursue her education by offering day care. It's also helping her daughters learn English so that they will be on the same level as native-born speakers once they enter kindergarten.
Rosa Guzman earned her GED through Even Start and has not yet mastered English, but has learned enough so she can go to the doctor's office, among other places, without needing a translator.
Although the program has helped many - probably hundreds - it is at risk because the Bush Administration hasn't given family programming priority, said Monica Notaro, the state's Even Start coordinator.
Wisconsin once had 23 programs, but with federal budgets cut almost 70 percent, the state is down to nine, Notaro said.
The 2008-‘09 year will most likely be Even Start's last at Beloit because the federal government has not renewed the program's grant, said Fran Fruzen, the safe and drug-free schools coordinator. He was told any leftover grant money will probably go to Milwaukee Public Schools.
Between the Even Start and 21st Century grants, Beloit received about $200,000 for the program, Fruzen said.
Because of Beloit's partnership with Blackhawk Technical College and association with Title I and 21st Century grants, Notaro said the district has a good chance continuing some of the program's concepts.
Within the next few weeks, Fruzen plans to ask district officials if they can reconfigure Even Start so that Beloit can salvage some of its aspects.
“To have that program end would, I think, be tragic,” Fruzen said.
Notaro agreed and spoke of the program's positive effects: participants can use the education to obtain better jobs, they feel a sense of belonging in the community and parents become more involved in their children's schools.
“Adults are learning, children are learning, and we're changing the community because of it,” Notaro said.
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