University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Rural Language and Literacy Connections (Rural LLC) is a unique proposal designed to create an intensive, literacy-based early learning program for rural, low-income children in Nebraska. Rural LLC is grounded on strong preschool/Head Start classroom curriculum instruction and rich environmental supports in literacy and language, as well as literacy supports in supplemental child care settings (private home or center-based) and children's homes to enhance children's early reading skills. The partnership involves the Head Start Child and Family Development Program (HSCFDP), Grand Island Public Schools-Early Childhood (GIPS-EC) in central rural Nebraska, and the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The goals of Rural LLC are to (a) improve young children's oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness and alphabet knowledge via use of scientifically-based early literacy curricula (integration of Opening the World of Learning [OWL] and Read Together, Talk Together [RTTT]); (b) improve the language and print-richness of the literacy environments for preschool children enrolled in Rural LLC; and (c) improve the capacity of early childhood professionals in preschools and supplementary child care settings to support the future reading and school success of young children through systematic professional development activities, as well as supplemental literacy-based opportunities to families. The primary emphasis of the proposal is on center-based preschool settings but the secondary emphasis on supplemental child care settings and homes is necessary and innovative given the particular milieu of children's everyday lives in this community, and is designed to put children at risk for educational failure on successful reading trajectories.

Video of this project on the UNL Office of Research Website