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ADVANCING RESEARCH ON INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE EQUITY IN YOUNG CHILDREN’S OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING LANGUAGE

The overarching goal of the Bridging the Word Gap Research Network is for all children to enter school ready to learn by increasing the capacity of parents and caregivers for enriching young children’s language learning environments in their homes, schools, and community settings.

BWG Research Gem

Find out about this month’s spotlight researcher and how they are working to close the word gap.

Early language experiences matter

Disparities in the quality and quantity of language input experiences by children

from poverty backgrounds exist and impact future child outcomes.

By age 4, children from low income families

hear 30 million fewer words.

Children from higher income families typically have twice the vocabulary size when

compared to children from lower-income families (1100 words vs. 500 words).

Watch our BWG Video Series

Our Objectives

The overarching goal of the Bridging the Word Gap Research Network is to reduce the number of children who enter school with delays in language and early literacy. Learn about the background and goals of our work in this YouTube video and find links to the National Research Agenda.

 

Meet the Team

The Bridging the Word Gap Research Network is made up of more than 150 nationally recognized researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders working together to develop and push forward a coordinated national research agenda that address the word gap.

Collaborating Research Partnerships

The Bridging the Word Gap Collaborating Reserach Partnerships are a national multi-site network of research entities that are  collaborating with our team to strengthen the evidence base of effective interventions reducing the word gap. Learn more about some of our partners.

Funding

This project was refunded through August 31, 2021 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant UA6MC 27762, Bridging the Word Gap Research Network. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.