The Language Learning Project (LLP) is one of the Fresno Starting Smart and Strong flagship programs. The LLP is a professional development approach for providers, born in Fresno, that is now in use nationwide. The approach has deeply impacted the Fresno community and its early childhood educators while gaining local, state, and national recognition. In alignment with the fact that young children have great capacity to learn more than one language, the LLP offers strategies and support to early childhood educators and a set of innovative practices that support the education of young dual language learners. 

The project is based around Personalized Oral Language(s) Learning (POLL) strategies, which are concrete approaches that support language learning in all environments for children birth to five years of age. The POLL strategies were developed by nationally renowned early childhood experts Dr. Linda Espinosa, Dr. Carola Oliva-Olson, and Elizabeth Magruder.

To guide other communities in building a stronger foundation for young dual language learners, we have developed an in-depth website that contains a collection of resources available for communities to use in training, implementing, and supporting the implementation of POLL strategies. 

Visit our Language Learning Project page to find a toolkit for implementing the project, videos, and more resources for educators.

 

Partners

The Language Learning Project’s origins are in a cross-agency collaborative between Fresno Unified Early Learning Department, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission Head Start/ Early Head Start, and the local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (Central Valley Children’s Services Network). Funding for this project was provided by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation, First 5 California, California Department of Education, and California Department of Social Services.

Help Me Grow helps children reach their optimal development by kindergarten. The goal is to identify more children with developmental concerns and link families to helpful services as early as possible in a child’s life. Help Me Grow systems include a centralized intake and referral, community outreach to promote early intervention systems, targeted outreach to child care and child health providers, and the collection and analysis of data to improve the system. 

For parents and caregivers: Help Me Grow Fresno County can answer your questions about your child’s development from birth to age five. Services are free and confidential. Our trained Call Line Care Coordinators will listen and follow your family’s questions. Call 1-866-KIDS-HMG (1-866-543-7464) any time of the day.

Visit the Help Me Grow Fresno County for more information.

 

Partners

Help Me Grow is in partnership with Central Valley Children’s Service Network, CalViva, Central Valley Regional Center, Exceptional Parents Unlimited, First 5 Fresno County, Fresno County Departments of: Behavioral Health, Public Health, and Social Services, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Fresno EOC Head Start and Early Head Start, Fresno Unified School District, United Way 211 Fresno & Madera, Valley Children’s Healthcare, Clovis Unified School District and Anthem Blue Cross.

Early Educator Teacher Development Grant

In partnership with the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Fresno Unified successfully secured the Early Educator Teacher Development (EETD) Grant from the California Department of Education. This grant is designed to strengthen instructional capacity for educators serving children ages 3–5 by providing high-quality professional learning for teachers and administrators. In addition, the grant offers stipend support to Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teachers pursuing Early Childhood Education (ECE) college coursework.

A key component of this initiative is the development of the Principal’s Academy; a four-part professional learning series designed for site leaders. The Academy focuses on strengthening high-quality instruction and ensuring strong Preschool through Grade 3 (P–3) alignment across elementary sites.

To expand the impact of this work, the Principal’s Academy is now being delivered to Fresno County leaders through a Train-the-Trainer model. This approach builds countywide capacity by equipping district leaders with the tools and resources needed to provide sustained, high-quality professional learning for their own administrators.

Visit the Early Educator Teacher Development Grant for more information.

Count Play Explore

Fresno Unified School District was awarded the Count Play Explore Professional Learning and Coaching (CPE PLC) Cohort grant through the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.

This grant provides our department with the opportunity to deliver high-quality professional learning and coaching to preschool and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teachers in the areas of early science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

Through this initiative, we will also collaborate with community partners and strengthen family engagement, ensuring that together we recognize and embrace that STEAM learning is everywhere—in our classrooms, our homes, and our community.

Visit the Count Play Explore for more information.