For eight years, the Even Start program has helped immigrant families in Worthington develop English-language skills. Thanks to a new federal grant, that opportunity will continue to remain available.
As reported on the front page of today's Daily Globe, District 518 Community Education will receive $70,000 every year for the next four years to keep Even Start sessions going. Worthington was just one of two state cities -- Rochester being the other -- to get the funding, a decision that apparently recognizes the unique needs and challenges it faces.
The importance of making English-language education as available as possible cannot be magnified enough. We can encourage immigrant families to learn English all we like, but without programs such as Even Start, it's clearly more difficult to do so. And, by assisting people of other nationalities to learn English, we can only increase communication and understanding among one another, not to mention create greater efficiencies in everywhere from businesses to schools.
Congratulations to District 518 Community Education for receiving this valuable funding. May the program continue to flourish for the next four years -- and beyond.
