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Special Education and Literacy Studies

College of Education and Human Development

Child Development Grant

Researchers from the College of Education and Human Development have been awarded a 3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Early Reading First program to promote literacyamong Head Start children in Battle Creek.  The WMU-led effort involves a partnership between the CoEHD departments of Family and Consumer Sciences and Special Education and Literacy Studies.  The program will provide extensiveprofessional development and help Head Start centers develop literacy-rich environments to facilitate development of phonological, print, alphabet and book awareness.  Dr. Esther Newlin-Haus, currently the evaluation coordinator of the GEAR UP grant, will serve as project director.  In addition, co-principal investigators Drs. Karen Thomas, Shaila Rao and Kristal Ehrhardt from the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies will provide both formal workshops and weekly coaching for teachers.  Lori Farrer, an instructor in Family and Consumer Sciences, will act as literacy coach.  Kellogg Community College and WMU will both offer credit for full participation in the grant's professional development program.  The grant also includes a family component and will fund a five-week summer school for approximately 300 children.