Log In
Get Started
A woman in an orange shirt sits on a concrete block by the sea, holding a baby in the air and smiling. The background shows blue water and sky, with more concrete blocks and rocky formations nearby.

Illinois, 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.

Request a Demo

Right Now ...

tree icon

Only 1 in 11 children

gets the optimal amount of language interaction.

rocket icon

1 in 8 children

spends most of the day in language isolation.

comment icon

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
A teacher sits at a table with three young children, helping them play with colorful geometric blocks. In the background, other children play and read in a bright classroom.

LENA knows that every early childhood program can ExceleRate in Illinois.

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 the Illinois ExceleRate system.

A solid blue badge shape with scalloped edges, resembling a starburst or seal, on a transparent background.

Improving child outcomes, and proving our results.

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

A solid orange shape resembling a rounded plus sign or cross, with four equally sized semicircular lobes extending from a central point, on a transparent background.

LENA Grow preschool classrooms saw significant increases in all three CLASS® domains, especially Instructional Support.

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

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

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

Five Weeks That Change Everything

Request a Demo

People across the country are loving LENA

States with a large LENA Grow presence have seen clear results. 90% of teachers report feeling more confident in their teaching abilities, and 88% report higher job satisfaction.  

A woman with braided hair and light makeup smiles at the camera, wearing a teal top and necklace. The background shows framed pictures and documents on a light-colored wall.
Large, white, left-facing quotation mark on a solid black background.

The kids really love doing LENA. They looked happier. They love talking.  And it got us on a routine. Yes, we talk to the children, but there’s sometimes we do forget to parallel talk. This year we’re under federal review. By doing LENA, it got me mentally prepared. 

– Kelly Ladage, Head Start educator in Kankakee, Ill.

A solid orange shape with a scalloped edge resembling a circular seal or splash, set against a transparent background.

Ready to transform your early childhood program in Illinois?

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

A man with short dark hair and a trimmed beard, wearing a dark blue checked blazer and white shirt, smiling at the camera against a blurred indoor background.

Connect with Luis Bernal

Regional Partnerships Director LuisBernal@LENA.org

See the latest resources ...