FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Curtis Kuhn
303-441-9018
New LENA Partnership To Expand Early Language Development in Arkansas Classrooms
Louisville, CO — October 13, 2025 — LENA, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives through early talk, announced a new statewide partnership with Excel by Eight and the University of Arkansas to strengthen early childhood education across the state.
Through this collaboration, the partners will expand and evaluate the LENA Grow program in 400 early childhood classrooms. LENA Grow is a professional development program that equips teachers with tools to measure and improve adult-child interactions — a critical marker of quality in early learning.
“Adult-child interactions are the foundation of brain development and learning,” said Steve Hannon, President and CEO of LENA. “We’re proud to provide educators with job-embedded data and coaching on interactions to ensure Arkansas children have the opportunity to thrive.”
Backed by a 2.5-year grant from the Walton Family Foundation, the project will support teachers in 400 classrooms through reflective coaching cycles designed to build confidence and elevate classroom interactions. The initiative aims to help children, especially those starting with fewer language skills, achieve up to 50% gains in conversational turns, a proven driver of early language development.
Speaking on behalf of the Walton Family Foundation, Katherine Robinson noted, “Every child deserves access to opportunity. By partnering with LENA and educators across Arkansas, we hope to demonstrate how strong teacher-child engagement can drive meaningful learning gains, particularly for children who need it most.”
As part of the effort, LENA will also launch one of the largest randomized controlled trials of its kind, involving 230 classrooms. The study will assess the program’s impact on CLASS scores, providing new insights into how LENA Grow supports both rural and urban schools across Arkansas.
For more information about LENA and its programs, visit lena.org.
About LENA
LENA is a national nonprofit on a mission is to transform children’s futures through early talk technology and data-driven programs. Used by educators, researchers, and clinicians all over the world, LENA measures a child’s language environment and provides vital feedback to improve child outcomes through interactions. For more information, visit LENA.org