Even Start – Family Literacy in Women's Prisons Program

The Department of Education's Even Start Family Literacy in Women's Prisons Program (CFDA 84.313) has not disbursed grant awards since July 2008—eighteen years ago—and no current grant opportunities are posted.

The program funded family literacy services in correctional facilities housing women, supporting educational programming for incarcerated parents and their children. The single grant award on record, Project Grant S313A080001, obligated $1.996 million in federal dollars with a combined total commitment of $2 million including non-federal match. The award was issued on July 1, 2008, with an ultimate completion date of September 22, 2008.

The program structure consists entirely of Project Grants. The Department of Education is the sole funding agency on record, though the portfolio shows $0 in federal dollars obligated despite the $1.996 million award recorded in the individual grant detail—a data inconsistency that suggests either archive gaps or reporting anomalies in the underlying grants database.

No recent grant opportunities are documented, and the absence of awards or solicitations in the past eighteen years indicates the program is inactive. Organizations evaluating pursuit should confirm current program status directly with the Department of Education before investing in application development. If the program remains formally open, the extended dormancy suggests either very limited funding cycles, program consolidation, or de facto closure without formal termination.