HUNTINGTON BEACH : School District Wins 4-Year Literacy Grant

The Ocean View School District has received a federal grant of $217,600 annually for four years to operate a literacy program for children and their parents at Oak View and Lake View elementary schools.

A major goal of the Even Start program is to help parents become partners in education with their children at a very early age to help the youngsters get a good start in school.

Even Start, expected to begin early next year, has several components. It will bring parents and children ages 3 and 4 together four days a week at both schools. The children will participate in a high-quality preschool program while the adults learn skills in academic and vocational areas and ways to help their children, according to Lake View teacher Donna Stapleton, who helped to write the winning grant.

There also will be a special program before or after school for children ages 5 to 7 that will offer English language development and other academics. The children’s parents will attend adult education classes taught by Huntington Beach Union High School District instructors at Oak View Elementary School.

A program for children up to age 3 will offer weekly “Mommy and Me” classes where participants learn exercises and rhymes, sing and do other preschool activities.

Stapleton said the Even Start family literacy program is expected to draw more than 200 families. More than 300 children up to age 7 and more than 300 parents and legal guardians are expected to participate.

The two schools have the most poverty, crime and illiteracy, and lowest test scores in the school district, Stapleton said.