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DESE outlines early‑childhood literacy push, 12 Local Leads awarded in first cohort
Summary
Assistant Commissioner Tanya Williams briefed the Senate Education Committee on early‑childhood investments, citing research on early language exposure, announcing 12 funded Local Leads from 34 applicants and a statewide coverage goal by the 2627 school year.
Tanya Williams, assistant commissioner for the Office of Early Childhood at the Department of Education, told the Senate Education Committee that early childhood interventions and local planning are central to meeting the state’s K–3 literacy goals.
Williams emphasized early brain development and research linking daily reading to later language outcomes. "1 short book per day to a young child can increase their vocabulary by 300,000 words," she said, using the figure to underline efforts to improve kindergarten readiness.
She described the Local Leads element of LEARNS as a locally driven model to unify early-childhood work, conduct needs…
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