Center for Early Care and Education Research: Dual Language Learners

Funds are provided by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) for the creation of a Center for Research in Early Care and Education to focus on dual language learners (DLLs) from birth through 5 years of age and their families. The Center will provide leadership and collaborate with researchers from diverse areas of expertise in order (a) to improve the state of knowledge and measurement in early childhood research on young DLLs and the needs of their families as these relate to children's development, and (b) to identify and advance the evidence base for the best practices and strategies in early care and education programming to support the overall development of young DLLs and to effectively support their families. Settings to be considered include early care and education center-based programs, home-based and family child care providers, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Populations to receive particular attention include children in families who speak languages other than English, with low-income status and/or other social disadvantages, such as limited educational attainment or residence in economically disadvantaged areas. The Center will be funded through a cooperative agreement which is part of larger OPRE research efforts related to Child Care Bureau (CCB) and Office of Head Start (OHS) priorities. A recent effort that is closely related to the one described in this announcement and presents approaches to DLL research and programmatic questions relevant to CCB and OHS is Supporting Positive Language and Literacy Development in Young Language Minority Children: Research, Policy, and Practice (ACF, 2008c) http://www.childcareresearch.org/Discover?displayPage=meetings%5Cell%5Cindex.jsp.