The Overcoming Disadvantage in Early Childhood (ODEC) study is a longitudinal evaluation of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s (ALNF) Early Language and Literacy (EL&L) program. The study was designed to answer the research question: What is the effect of the EL&L program on the development of language and literacy skills in preschool aged children? An integral component of this study was to develop a new measure of oral language and literacy - the Early Language and Literacy Developmental Index (ELLDI). The ELLDI was developed in recognition of the need for a best practice measure of oral language and literacy that was fit for purpose. This report documents the sum of work completed across the duration of the study from 2018-2022. The design of the study was based on the principles of a longitudinal outcome evaluation and had three components: a) design of the outcome measure: the ELLDI; b) interim results and recommendations; and c) final results, recommendations and reporting.
© The Australian Council for Educational Research 2022. With the exception of any material protected by a trademark, and where otherwise noted, all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Overcoming Disadvantage in Early Childhood Project was funded by donations from Eureka Benevolent Foundation and CAGES Foundation to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s Early Language and Literacy program. ALNF is a registered national charity dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia. ALNF’s programs aim to create a more inclusive Australia, unlocking potential through the power of language, literacy and learning. It works in partnership with First Nations, refugee and other vulnerable Australians to address the language and literacy learning needs of individuals and communities, giving them a better chance to succeed.
A summary version of the report is available at: https://research.acer.edu.au/early_childhood_misc/33/