The Promoting Emergent Literacy in Licensed Care (PELLC) Project

Nell K. Duke, Project Director
Annie M. Moses, Shenglang Zhang, & Alison Billman, Project Collaborators
In partnership with:
Patricia Farrell, Michigan State University Families and Communities Together (FACT) Coalition
James B. Gale, Director, Office of Children and Adult Licensing, Michigan Family Independence Agency
James Sinnamon, Director, Division of Child Day Care Licensing, Office of Children and Adult Licensing, Michigan Family Independence Agency
Norma Eppinger, Michigan Community Coordinated Child Care (Michigan 4 Cs)

The State of Michigan has instituted a policy that all licensed childcare centers include at least 30 minutes of developmentally appropriate emergent literacy activities each day (this policy is likely to be extended to family and group child care settings in the near future). The PELLC Project aims to support implementation of this policy. Current PELLC activities include: (1) a survey and observational study regarding the degree to which childcare providers are offering developmentally appropriate literacy activities and environment, the nature of the activities and environment, and providers' interest in further professional development; (2) development of a videotape and booklet on developmentally appropriate emergent literacy activity in child care to be mailed to all licensed child care providers in Michigan, to be distributed to new providers at orientation sessions, and to be available for training and professional development purposes throughout the state; and (3) technical support for licensing consultants and supervisors regarding implementation of the policy. In the future we hope to evaluate the impact of professional development using the videotape on provider practices and child outcomes.

Although large numbers of American children attend childcare, little is known about the care with respect to how to supports, or does not support, literacy development. The survey and observational study in the PELLC Project will provide important information about the nature and extent of developmentally appropriate emergent literacy activities in licensed childcare in Michigan. The professional development and technical support components of the project may help improve the literacy environments and activities offered to children in licensed childcare settings.

Current project funding provided by LARC and by a grant from the Families and Communities Together (FACT) Coalition.