check-paper dots minus2 close2 globe hamburger plus2 search starburst linkedin linkedin play bullet close menu minus plus check envelope home instagram youtube twitter facebook calendar minus-circle minus3 plus-circle plus3 chevron-circle-down chevron-circle-up chevron-circle-right chevron-circle-left chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down chevron-up

Early Learning

Early Learning

Early childhood – typically defined as preschool through about 3rd grade – is a critical developmental period and a core focus of the Education School's research. From training early childhood teachers to cultivating policy partnerships across Virginia and beyond, UVA's education school is deeply committed and engaged in how to improve education for our littlest learners.

News & Media

  • $10 Million Gift Supports Early Learning

    Jane Batten’s gift will enable creation of professorships and fellowships in the School of Education.

    Read More
  • 2019 Early Childhood Education Summit

    Superintendents, policy makers, and experts gathered for a conversation about the status and future vision for Early Childhood Education in the Commonwealth of VA.

    Read more
  • New Undergraduate Major: Early Childhood Education

    In a major restructuring of its Teacher Education program, the UVA School of Education and Human Development launched 3 new undergraduate teaching majors.

    Read More
  • Running on a New Promise for Pre-K

    "Let’s stop thinking that pre-k, universal or targeted, is the silver bullet answer," writes Dean Pianta for The Hill.

    Read More
  • Researchers Pilot New Curriculum in Virginia

    The Ed School will pilot a new curriculum in 100 early childhood classrooms, half private and faith-based and half state or federally funded, over the next two years.

    Read More
  • Expanding Quality Early Childhood Education

    Virginia and Louisiana landed nearly $18M in federal grants to enhance early childhood education initiatives. Ed School researchers are a key part of both projects.

    Read More
  • The Latest News

    Stay in the know – click the link below for a full list of news stories about Early Learning.

    More Stories

Measurable Impact

  • 99 %

    of Virginia kindergartners take EHD's readiness assessments

  • 6 th

    best Elementary Education program in the country

  • 50

    states use tools developed at the School of Education and Human Development

Research

Research Spotlight

In the Classroom

At the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, or CASTL, researchers are breaking new ground in the study of how young children learn.

Literacy Innovation

Developed at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening—or PALS—has become the gold standard for the reading assessment of PreK-3rd grade students, expanding into 99% of Virginia school divisions, 50 states, and multiple countries.

Kindergarten Readiness

The School's suite of assessments that measures how prepared a child is for kindergarten is now in every single kindergarten classroom in both Virginia and Louisiana.

School Absences

Economically disadvantaged children are more likely to be chronically absent from school. How does absenteeism affect learning outcomes for young children?

Early STEM Skills

Weekly spacial playgroups, held at the Virginia Discovery Museum, are a living and growing collaboration including researchers, museum staff, and students to learn more about children's spacial skill development – a key skill for STEM learning.

Meet the Researchers

Daphna Bassok: Early Childhood Education Policy

Associate Professor, Associate Director of EdPolicyWorks

Learn More

Jamie DeCoster: Research Statistics & Methodology

Research Assistant Professor, CASTL

Learn More

Jason T. Downer: Early Childhood Achievement & Learning

Professor of Education, Director of CASTL

Learn More

Tanya Evans: Educational Neuroscience

Research Assistant Professor, CASTL

Learn More

David W. Grissmer: Achievement Gaps, R&D Funding Policy

Research Professor, CASTL

Learn More

Chris S. Hulleman: Motivation & Learning Mindsets

Associate Professor, CASTL

Learn More

Jamie J. Jirout: Curiosity & Spatial Learning

Assistant Professor of Education, CASTL

Learn More

Jennifer LoCasale-Crouch: Early Childhood Classroom Interactions

Research Associate Professor, CASTL

Luke C. Miller: Early Childhood Education Policy

Research Assistant Professor, EdPolicyWorks

Learn More

Katherine Miller-Bains: Large-Scale Teaching Supports

Research Assistant Professor, CASTL

Khara Turnbull: Language Development & Classroom Discourse

Assistant Professor of Education, Researcher at CASTL

Learn More

Virginia E. Vitiello: Teacher-Child Interactions

Assistant Professor, CASTL

Learn More

Jessica E. Whittaker: Teacher-Child Interactions

Research Assistant Professor

Learn More

Amanda P. Williford: Early Childhood Education

Batten Bicentennial Professor of Early Childhood Education

Learn More

Vivian Wong: Research Methodology

Assistant Professor, EdPolicyWorks

Learn More

Early Learning News

 

New Free Resource Hub Provides Comprehensive Tools for Early Childhood Educators

The new website gives educators access to resources they can use to help children develop the important skills they need to thrive.

 

preschool children play with toys standing at a small table

UVA Supporting State’s Mission to Reduce Preschool Suspensions

In an effort to reduce preschool suspensions and expulsions, UVA researchers and their partners are building a system to better teach adults how to support young children’s mental health.

 

Illustration of an adult standing next to a young child wearing a backpack

Education Researcher Offers 5 Tips to Smooth Children's School Transitions

School transitions for young students can be tricky. UVA researchers have delved into why – and how to make things easier.

 

Researchers Awarded $5.7M by the Institute of Education Sciences

With four new grants, researchers from the School of Education and Human Development will be examining a range of topics including full-day pre-kindergarten and cultural and racial equity.

 

UVA Early Childhood Curriculum Will Be Made Available Statewide

The Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning and its partners have created a teaching approach that combines social smarts with academic ones.

 

View all Early Learning News