As education researchers and scholars, the language we use in our work matters.

The words we use to describe children, families and communities, and the systems that support them, must align with our core values to promote social justice for Black communities and other marginalized communities of color.

In an effort to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in our work moving forward, our Racial Equity Taskforce has developed a language guide that suggests ways to use more specific, person-centered language in order to move away from wording that applies external value judgements to demographic characteristics like race, home language and socioeconomic status.

In conjunction with the release of this guide, we have modified the network's mission statement. Learn more from the story highlighted below.

The Early Learning Network, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, leverages its expertise, resources and geographic diversity to help narrow opportunity gaps and maintain early learning success as children transition from preschool to third grade. Together, network researchers from universities and organizations across the U.S. are examining current policies and practices, identifying malleable factors associated with early learning and achievement, and developing tools to assess early learning instruction, interactions and environments. Learn more at earlylearningnetwork.unl.edu.