Early Accent on Reading and Learning for Young Children (EARLY) will develop Centers of Early Childhood Educational Excellence at five sites that serve 144 children each year of the program in urban Grand Rapids, Michigan. EARLY is a partnership between Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), and the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids (YMCA). The project is based upon a theory of change focusing on scientifically based reading research (SBRR) literacy practices and leading to school readiness for at-risk children. EARLY meets ERF Invitational Priority 1 as intensive full-time services are delivered to at-risk preschoolers, ages four to five, at sites that feed into Reading First schools. Priority 2 is met by focusing on increasing school readiness for children with limited English proficiency. Invitational Priority 3 is met through intentional inclusion of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, a non-profit, faith-based organization built on Christian principles.

EARLY activities address the following ERF goals: (1) Classroom environments will be improved through use of the Classroom Literacy Enrichment Model (CLEM), grounded in SBRR, that infuses literacy into all aspects of the classroom environment and emphasizes assessment as a part of common classroom practice. This builds on the experience and success of the 2002 ERF grant and Great Start Professional Development Grant. (2) Professional development for educators will be provided through an initial coursework learning opportunities, cohort monthly workshops, site-based mentoring (coaching) and individualized education plans that will lead to improved instruction in oral language, phonological and print awareness, and alphabet knowledge. (3) Services and instructional materials will develop language, cognitive and early reading skills through use of the CLEM integrating SBRR literacy practices. (4) Screening assessments (Pre-LAS, PPVT III, Pals PreK, TROLL) will identify needs of individual children and drive instructional strategies. Classroom environments will be assessed using ELLCO and improved to ensure tools for learning are available.

External evaluation will be conducted to provide on-going assessment data, assessment of change in educator knowledge and practice, and use of home literacy activities by families. Data will be used to ensure program efficacy and to improve the project on an ongoing basis.

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The contents of this webpage were developed under a grant from the Department of Education.
However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education,
and endorsement by the Federal Government is not assumed.

Updated on 20-MAY-09
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