Even Start family literacy programs in Texas were evaluated by outside evaluators. Data were gathered from two groups. The first group consisted of 631 families who were enrolled in 11 Even Start programs in Texas during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 program years. A survey, in English or Spanish, was administered to all parents in attendance on two days in late spring and academic gains were measured by standardized tests. The second group consisted of 582 families who had exited the same Even Start programs during the 1996-1999 program years. From this second group, about 25 families per program were contacted for data. Some of the findings of the study were the following: (1) parents have definite goals when enrolling in Even Start; (2) parents learn about Even Start from a variety of sources; (3) parents in Even Start increase their reading and writing activities and their academic abilities; (4) participating in Even Start increases the amount of time parents read to their children, help their children with learning activities, and spend with their children's teacher; (5) children in Even Start increase their academic abilities and improve in school; (6) parents are more likely to become employed after participating in Even Start programs; (7) parents in Even Start programs believe they have become good role models for their children; (8) parents who participate in Even Start programs become better consumers; and (9) families who participate in Even Start become more involved in their communities, become healthier, and feel more in control of their lives. (Contains 20 tables.) (KC)