Boosting Early Language and Literacy in partnership with LENA Grow

Engaging with children in their earliest years is crucial — the first five years lay the foundation for all future learning. Research shows that strong language and literacy skills developed before kindergarten can significantly impact a child’s success in school and beyond. Yet, many young learners in Indiana are missing out on this vital period of growth. One research-backed way to change this is by supporting early educators in creating more interactive, “serve and return” conversation with children. These back-and-forth exchanges are not only fun, but they are also a leading factor in brain development and child growth. By raising awareness of the importance of interactive talk and equipping educators with practical strategies, we can help improve classroom practices and boost learning outcomes. 

To deepen early language and literacy practices, Early Learning Indiana — with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc. — is offering an opportunity for early education programs to bring LENA Grow® to their classrooms.

Eligibility:

To participate, organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Nonprofit that serves a charitable purpose
• Committed to serving families that qualify for child care subsidies
• Serve multiple classrooms of children

Interested programs should be prepared to complete training and support implementation of LENA Grow.

Interest forms submitted by​ ​5 p.m. ET on ​February 21, 2025​ will be considered for the spring 2025 cohort.

Questions? Reach out to EducatorSolutions@earlylearningindiana.org.

Complete your interest form here: