LENA is a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that was founded in 2004 by the late Terry Paul and his wife Judi, entrepreneurs who pioneered reading, math, and testing products used in 70,000 schools in the United States and more than 50 countries worldwide.
Since then, LENA has become the industry standard for measuring early talk, used by communities all over the world in programs for families and teachers. In keeping with Terry and Judi’s original vision to level the playing field for children experiencing inequities, LENA’s programs utilize the technology to couple actional feedback with coaching to help adults increase the quality and quantity of talk with children. The unique measurement tool has also fueled research breakthroughs in neuroscience and child development, as scientists explore how interactive conversation with children changes their brains and is linked to long-term outcomes.
As LENA continues to scale the reach and impact of its programs — reaching more than 10,000 children in 2019 on the way to even loftier goals — we dream of achieving Terry and Judi’s vision of ensuring every child enters kindergarten ready to succeed. Read more about LENA’s history.