The purpose of Even Start, as outlined by federal legislation, is to help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and low literacy by providing a unified family literacy program for low-income families. Even Start has tree related goals:

• to help parents imporve their literacy skills
• to help parents become full partners in educating their children, and
• to assist children in reaching their full potential as learners.

The Aurora Public Schools Even Start Program is a four-component family literacy center-based program. The four components include: adult educational services (which inlcude English as a Secong Language (ESL)), General Education Development (GED) and computer instruction, early childhood education (ECE), parenting class, and Parent and Child Togehter Time (PACT) activiites. Parents also receive community assistance and referrals for health care, housing, and other family needs.