RMC supports early childhood educators and providers, families, and communities in the critical work of educating young children by bringing research and data on child development and early language and literacy to bear on professional practice and products. Our national reputation is based on our nearly 30-year history in the field, including work with federal Head Start, Title I, and Even Start programs as well as work with states and localities and with programs for Native American and migrant populations. See also Parent and Family Involvement.

Highlights

National Early Literacy Panel Products
Under a contract with the National Institute for Literacy, RMC is creating research-based publications on effective early literacy practices informed by the findings of the National Early Literacy Panel. The first publication, Early Beginnings/Early Literacy Knowledge and Instruction, is a guide for early childhood program administrators and professional developers.

Close-Ups
Each card in this set of 10 highlights essential questions to prompt reflection by early childhood providers on such topics as emotional development, planning, safety, and language development and communication goals. Developed for New York State Even Start programs, Close-Ups is an example of products emerging from RMC's more than 30-year history with the Even Start program.

Even Start Research-Based Early Childhood and Parent Education Professional Development
National experts on early childhood education contributed to Meaningful Change, a professional development training for early childhood and family literacy providers to improve literacy outcomes for young children. RMC designed the training sessions and presentations, now available in DVD form.

Early Childhood Language and Literacy Practices
RMC developed the content for the early childhood education section of the U.S.E.D.'s Doing What Works website, showcasing research findings on foundational literacy skills such as phonological awareness and the importance of interactive reading. Online resources include video interviews with researchers, multi-media guidance for teaching and learning new early literacy practices, and templates for planning work with states, districts, and early childhood programs.

Evaluation of the LeapFrog SchoolHouse "Ready, Set, Leap" Pre-K Early Literacy Curriculum
This randomized controlled control study looked at outcomes for teachers in 23 schools in Newark, NJ and Las Vegas, NV. Recruiting and training test administrators, RMC staff coordinated testing, trained observers for treatment fidelity, surveyed and interviewed teachers and parents, and analyzed data on more than 1,000 students and 72 teachers. The study met the evidence standards of the What Works Clearinghouse.

Other work:

• Early Reading First Evaluation for the city of Manchester, New Hampshire
• Evaluation of a Jumpstart and Experience Corps collaboration to engage older adults in volunteering with preschool children
• Early literacy products for parents published by the National Institute for Literacy include A Child Becomes a Reader, the Shining Stars series, and Big Dreams.
• Since 1989, RMC has served in a variety of capacities at the federal level to offer technical assistance to state Even Start programs.