Areas of Expertise - Early Childhood Language and Literacy
Language and literacy skills are critical to children’s school success. Every year nearly 4 million U.S. children are enrolled in public schools and approximately 30 percent will be reading at a minimal level by the 4th grade. Children who enter school with limited verbal abilities, an inability to attend to language sounds, and a lack of letter knowledge are more likely to have reading difficulties.
Early Childhood Associates, Inc. uses current research on language and literacy to inform its training and technical assistance and contributes to expanding the base of knowledge related to young children’s language and literacy development.
In 2001, Early Childhood Associates, Inc. completed an evaluation of the Lowell Early Learning Opportunities Act grant that correlated preschool program quality with thirteen language and literacy indicators. The report documented that children who attended a one year public school preschool program with a degreed teacher demonstrated statistically significantly stronger school readiness skills than children who attended a community program with a non degreed teacher.
Since 2006, ECA has been the external evaluator for two Early Reading First grantees in Michigan. The projects support children’s oral language, phonological awareness, letter identification and book knowledge skills to ensure their success as readers and in school. As the evaluator, ECA provides up-to-date progress monitoring reports to the programs so that teachers can use assessment data to guide curriculum development.
Early Childhood Associates, Inc. works collaboratively with a number of communities in Massachusetts who have high concentrations of low income families and English language learners. In our complex culture, to succeed in school, in employment and in society, individuals need strong communication skills that have their foundation in early experiences. ECA has developed products, provides training, and disseminates research to support young children’s language and literacy development.
