Six additional programs are currently under development. Eleven of those are currently funded with Even Start funds administered through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Community college Basic Skills programs provide the adult education components of these Even Start programs, with public schools and Head Start programs providing the early childhood components. The intensity of these comprehensive programs varies, but all are striving to provide a sufficient number of hours and days to make sustainable changes in families. The average number of hours offered by family literacy program components in 1997-1998 include 21.5 hours for early childhood education, 12.8 hours for adult education, 3.2 hours for parenting education, and 2.7 hours for parent and child interaction.
Programs meet two to five days per week and include day as well as evening classes.
Comprehensive programs are serving approximately 1,300 participants annually with an average adult class size of 15.9 and an average early childhood class of 15.3. Thirty-five percent of the families served are TANF recipients. As a result, North Carolina plans to increase funding for comprehensive family literacy programs in the state through grants. In program year 1998-1999, North Carolina served 31,634 students. As a result of this growth, North Carolina has increased the number of ESL classes and intensified training programs for ESL instructors.