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North Carolina, say Hello to LENA Grow

96% of teachers recommend it!

LENA Grow is evidence-based professional development that delivers powerful data without the hassle. Backed by 20+ years of research, LENA Grow focuses on the key marker of quality in early childhood education: teacher-child interactions.

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Right Now in North Carolina...

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Only 1 in 11 children

gets the optimal amount of language interaction.

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1 in 8 children

spends most of the day in language isolation.

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Only 1 in 10 classrooms

provides the level of interaction necessary for ideal language development.

LENA Grow Empowers Early Childhood Education

higher kindergarten readiness
0 x
increase in teacher-child interactions
0 %
boost in social skills assessment scores
0 %
better teacher retention
0 x

On the Ground in the Tarheel State

Patty and Champagne are infant educators in Burlington, N.C. It’s safe to say they were skeptical of LENA Grow at first. Since then, they’ve become big advocates.

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As of May 2025, LENA Grow has reached ~200 sites across North Carolina. The sky is the limit!

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LENA boosts classroom quality — period.

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. LENA Grow measures — and improves — the teacher-child interactions that play such a large role in North Carolina’s Star Rated License.

Even at centers with the highest quality rating, many children experience very little interaction with their teachers. That needs to change. When it does, higher classroom quality follows.

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Improving child outcomes, and proving our results.

Studies show that increasing interactions with LENA Grow boosts kindergarten readiness, early literacy skills, teacher confidence, and more. 

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Children in LENA Grow classrooms were approximately two times more likely to demonstrate school readiness on the BRIGANCE, i-Ready®, and KRA assessments.

Children in LENA Grow classrooms saw significant increases in TS GOLD® early literacy scores.

Teachers who participated in LENA Grow reported feeling significantly more valued as early childhood professionals.

Five Weeks That Change Everything

Teachers are loving LENA

  • 85% of North Carolina educators reported increased confidence in their teaching abilities after LENA Grow.
  • 86% say they saw positive changes in children’s language development.
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You know, I was kind of scared when we started doing LENA. But then when we got the results back: Wow!

– Amber Goodyear, infant teacher in Wilmington, N.C.

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Ready to transform your early childhood program in North Carolina?

Whether you’re ready to implement LENA Grow or just want to learn more, we’d love to connect. 

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Connect with Gina Gates

Regional Partnerships Director GinaGates@LENA.org

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