Few, if any, reliable and valid screening tools exist to identify language delay in young Spanish-English speaking dual-language learners (DLLs). The early communication indicator (ECI) is a brief, naturalistic measure of expressive communication development designed to inform intervention decision-making and progress monitoring for infants and…

Prior research suggests that Spanish-speaking Dual Language Learners (DLLs)--young children who must master two languages simultaneously, their home language and English (Espinosa, 2013)--differentially benefit from quality Early Childhood Education (ECE), and in particular from Head Start, compared with children of other subgroups and…

This study is an ethnographic case study that focuses on three family members from Mexican migrant farmworker households (a father, a grandmother, and mother), their discussions around the topic of educating their children, and their engagement in the seasonal early childcare programs that serve farmworker children. This study takes a…

The purpose of this cluster randomized group study was to investigate the effect of multitiered, dual language instruction on children's oral language skills, including vocabulary, narrative retell, receptive and expressive language, and listening comprehension. Participants were 3-5 year old children (n = 81) who were learning English and whose…

Dual language learners make up an increasing share of preschool students, but they often perform worse than monolingual students on assessments measuring school achievement. This study compares Head Start classrooms implementing either the dual language model or the English with home language support model. The author examines how the models…

In this study, we investigated the concurrent and longitudinal relationships between vocabulary and word reading across Spanish and English. One hundred and seventeen 4- to 5-year-old Spanish-English bilingual children attending Head Start programs in the United States were tested for their Spanish and English word reading twice, 5 months apart.…

In 2012-2013, AISD pre-K students demonstrated growth in receptive vocabulary on a nationally-normed test. Students enrolled in multiple programs showed greater growth in receptive vocabulary in their native language than did other pre-K students. [Funding for this report was provided by Title I funds.]

Nearly half a million children in the United States are currently being served by the foster care system. Infants and toddlers represent the largest single group entering foster care. While these very young children are at the greatest peril for physical, mental health, and developmental issues and tend to spend the longest time in the foster care…

This pilot study examined the feasibility of a home-school partnership for improving emergent literacy skills in Spanish-speaking pre-school children of migrant farmworkers. Parents were requested to send labeled drawings of family activities to their children's classroom for supplementing bilingual language and literacy instruction. Participants…

This paper argues that young Hispanic (or Latina/o) children (ages 3 to 8 years) should be of particular interest to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in education. Young Hispanic children constitute an urgent demographic imperative. Young Hispanic children are not only the largest racial/ethnic group in the U.S., but also the youngest…

The purpose of this report was to describe the first year of the implementation of a bilingual program consisting of three levels of instruction: preliterate, beginning, and intermediate. Students were placed in one of the three levels following state and district guidelines. The instruction implemented was designed to serve students with little…

The Growing Up Strong (GUS) program was developed for preschool through sixth grade students to promote mental and physical health and prevent substance abuse. The Spanish Bilingual Supplement to the kindergarten through third grade GUS materials also promotes respect for Spanish language and cultures. This document includes an English-language…

Growing Up Strong (GUS), a mental health and substance abuse prevention program, was developed to help preschoolers through sixth graders gain improved mental and physical health and establish positive relationships with significant adults. The Spanish Bilingual Supplement to the preschool-level GUS program also promotes respect for Spanish…