[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14414-S14415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. L. CHAFEE:
  S. 1891. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to improve literacy through family literacy projects; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions


              the literacy involves families together act

  Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, today I have the enormous honor of 
introducing legislation to renew and strengthen the Even Start Family 
Literacy Act. On October 1, 1985, my father stood at this desk, where I 
stand today, and introduced the Even Start Act. He did so because of 
his profound commitment to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged 
members of our society. As I introduce this bill, which attempts to 
break the cycle of illiteracy that divides our Nation into haves and 
have nots, I do so in an effort to continue that commitment to 
disadvantaged Americans.

[[Page S14415]]

  Last week, an identical bill was introduced in the House of 
Representatives by Bill Goodling, chairman of the House Committee on 
Education and the Workforce. Chairman Goodling introduced the original 
Even Start Act in the House on May 16, 1985. Both versions of the Even 
Start Act were reintroduced in the 100th Congress and became law as 
part of the Hawkins-Stafford Elementary and Secondary Improvement Act 
Amendments of 1987.
  There are approximately 40 million Americans who suffer from 
illiteracy. Like a disease, illiteracy often goes undetected. Like a 
disease, illiteracy too often is passed from generation to generation. 
Like a disease, illiteracy is painful for families to endure. There is 
no certain cure for illiteracy, but by renewing and expanding the Even 
Start Family Literacy Program, we offer tens of thousands of families 
hope for a better future.
  There are many controversies related to education policy at the 
local, state and federal levels. There are heartfelt, passionately held 
opinions about everything from funding levels to particular teaching 
techniques. Nevertheless, there are a few things on which nearly 
everyone agrees: parents are their children's first and most important 
teachers, and children who are read to early and often do better in 
school than children who are not.
  As the father of three young children, reading together is a part of 
daily life that I take for granted. I suspect that it is difficult for 
most of the members of this body to imagine what it would be like not 
to have the ability to sit down with your children or grandchildren to 
read a favorite story. But for millions of Americans, reading a bedtime 
story or helping with a son or daughter's homework assignment is 
impossible.
  The Even Start Family Literacy Act brings families together to learn. 
Parents who do not have a high school degree or its equivalent are 
eligible for this program. They learn the basic educational skills that 
enable them to improve their own situations and, perhaps even more 
importantly, they learn the skills they need to help their children in 
school. At the same time, children from birth to age 8 receive 
appropriate educational services.

  The bill I am introducing makes two notable changes in the Even Start 
program. First, it enables a child, who also is receiving title I 
services, to remain in the Even Start program beyond age 8. It also 
requires Even Start programs to utilize research-based teaching 
techniques for children. In addition to these improvements, it 
authorizes the Institute for Literacy to investigate the most effective 
means of improving adults' literacy skills, and it increases the 
authorization level to $500 million so that more families can be 
served.
  Currently, there are four Even Start programs in Rhode Island 
receiving federal funds. Each of these programs serves between 25 and 
40 families. In Newport, the Sullivan School Children's Opportunity 
Zone/Family Center has entered into an Even Start partnership with New 
Visions--the local Head Start provider, the Newport Public Library, the 
Florence Gray Center--which provides housing for low-income families, 
the Community College of Rhode Island and the Newport Hospital. Half of 
its participants are non-English readers.
  In Woonsocket, the Fairmont School is the Even Start center, with 
partners from Literacy Volunteers of Northern Rhode Island and 
Woonsocket Head Start, among others. Three cities and towns--Johnston, 
North Providence, and Smithfield, have joined together to create the 
Tri-Town Community Action Even Start Program. Finally, the Cunningham 
School Even Start Program has established a partnership with Pawtucket 
Public Schools and Libraries, the Pawtucket Day Nursery, and a range of 
education and social service providers.
  Each of these programs has utilized existing early childhood and 
adult education services. Together they are striving to address the 
needs of the whole family.
  In the 12 years since the Even Start Program first was created, our 
nation has been propelled into the information age. Americans are 
increasingly dependent on technology for a wide range of needs and 
services. This new age magnifies our need for a literate society. As we 
continue to experience technological advancements, the educationally 
disadvantaged fall further behind. I believe that the Even Start Family 
Literacy Act as reauthorized by this bill--the Literacy Involves 
Families Together Act--is critically important to our Nation's 
children, our Nation's families, and our Nation's future.
  I see Senator Jeffords on the floor. Before I yield to him, I thank 
him for his generosity to me and for his leadership in the area of 
education. Chairman Jeffords has the daunting task of leading the 
Senate's efforts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act. From what I know of Senator Jeffords, this major undertaking 
couldn't be in more able hands.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join me as cosponsors of this 
bill.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, we were all deeply saddened just a few 
days ago at the death of Senator John Chafee. Certainly, that sadness 
can never diminish completely. But having his son with us today and 
starting right off by introducing an excellent piece of legislation 
certainly brings us strong hope for the future.
  Mr. President, I commend the Senator from Rhode Island for 
introducing the Literacy Involves Families Together Act, the LIFT Act. 
This legislation reauthorizes one of the most effective education 
programs, Even Start.
  The Even Start Act was first introduced in 1985 by Representative 
Bill Goodling, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, 
and our former colleague, Senator John Chafee.
  When first created, the goal of the Even Start program was to develop 
a comprehensive literacy program that improves educational 
opportunities for disadvantaged families by focusing on parenting 
education, early childhood education, and adult education. Since its 
establishment a little over a decade ago, Even Start has grown from 76 
local programs serving 2,500 families to an estimated 600 programs 
assisting over 36,000 parents and 48,000 children.
  The most recent evaluation of the Even Start program illustrated that 
both the adults and children who participated in the program 
significantly improved their reading and basic education skills. The 
evaluation specifically pointed out that the educational gap that 
existed at the beginning of the school year for first term Even Start 
students was reduced by approximately two-thirds when the Even Start 
students were tested at the conclusion of the school year.
  The most recent national survey of reading achievement by fourth 
graders indicates that forty-four percent of school age children in 
this nation are reading below a basic level of achievement.
  Sadly, the statistics are also dismal when analyzing adult literacy 
skills. The most recent National Adult Literacy Survey found a total of 
44 million adults, almost 25 percent of the adult population in the 
United States, were at the lowest literacy level. The lowest literacy 
level means that 44 million adults in this country have demonstrated 
difficulty in the reading and writing skills essential for carrying out 
daily routines. The uniqueness of the Even Start program is that it 
provides services to the entire family--it enables families to learn 
together.
  I commend my colleague from Rhode Island for making literacy a very 
high priority. I am especially pleased that he chose to sponsor the 
reauthorization of the Even Start program which was first introduced to 
this body by his father.
  I look forward to working with the Senator from Rhode Island on the 
Literacy Involves Families Together Act, the LIFT Act, as a part of the 
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which the 
Senate will consider early next year and on other education and 
literacy initiatives that will enable all of our Nation's citizens to 
have the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in the global 
economy.
  I again commend the Senator from Rhode Island for being out here so 
fast and quick with a very important piece of legislation. I share his 
enthusiasm and look forward to working with him.
                                 ______