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Even Start Family Literacy

For over 30 years, we have partnered with Fox Valley Technical College on the Appleton Even Start Family Literacy (ESFL) program to support children’s educational success and help adults improve literacy and employment skills while learning to support their child’s education.

Housed at the Community Early Learning Center, the program provides a supportive environment where adults learn English or earn a GED while their children (birth to age five) engage in a preschool setting with trained early childhood educators.

Family literacy follows a two-generation model:

  • Children receive high-quality early learning experiences focused on language and social-emotional development in a play-based setting.
  • Parents improve their English, earn a high school diploma, and develop career skills.

Each family receives at least three home visits per school year from trained Parents as Teachers educators, reinforcing learning through engaging activities tailored to their child’s development.

Key Features:

  • Parents and children learn together.
  • Children participate in quality early education.
  • Parents become their child’s first teacher.
  • Interactive literacy activities strengthen parent-child bonds.
  • Age-appropriate education prepares children for school and life.
  • Parents embrace lifelong learning.

Even Start’s Four Goals:

  1. Prepare children with essential literacy and education skills.
  2. Improve adult literacy.
  3. Enhance parenting skills.
  4. Foster quality adult-child interactions.

Children receive instruction from trained educators while adults attend classes, including Appleton Community 4K, Head Start, Title I preschool, or the Even Start early childhood classroom. The curriculum aligns with the Appleton Area School District’s Birth-Three program and Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards.

Collaborating partners include Head Start, Appleton Public Library, Fox Valley Literacy Council, UW Extension, Appleton Park & Rec, Outagamie County Parent Resource Program, and Family Connections.

Contact

Even Start Family Literacy 
Administrative Assistant
(920) 832-6140

Anne Marie Werley-Gonzalez
Coordinator of Title I, II, Staff Development, Educator Effectiveness, and Even Start Family Literacy
(920) 832-6321
email

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Data & Facts

49

49 families were served in 2022-23 consisting of 50 adults and 66 children

40%

Speak Spanish

38%

Speak Dari/Farsi

30+

Over 30 year partnership between AASD and FVTC.

0-5

The program serves birth to five children along with their parents.