Early Childhood Overview

The mission of the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development is to provide professional development and research in literacy from early childhood through adulthood. In order to provide systemic support, CCLD is committed to working with early child care providers and educators in the development of early language and literacy skills. It supports initiatives that produce high quality teachers with the goal of improving student achievement. These early childhood professionals need to know theories of child development, how to meet the unique and varied needs of individual children, and how to plan a research-based curriculum delivered in an interesting and stimulating environment that contributes to the healthy development of young children.  The benefits of such early care and education promote both cognitive and social development, as well as fostering language and literacy from birth to age five.