Jennifer Quillian, Early Learning Quick Assessments (ELQA) Project Director at the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) and Dr. Craig Van Pay, Senior Data Analyst/Researcher at the Early Childhood Education Institute (ECEI) were tapped by the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals to present a session at their 2026 Leadership Conference on Wednesday, February 25, in downtown Oklahoma City. The annual conference is consistently one of the most highly attended state professional gatherings for elementary school decision-makers.

During the session, “Building Bright Beginnings: Creating Optimal Learning in Pre-K and Kindergarten,” Quillian and Van Pay described a research-based model for creating the "optimal learning sector" for early childhood classrooms through differentiated coaching, content knowledge of teachers, and special emphasis on progress monitoring. Dr. Van Pay shared findings of ECEI’s longitudinal study of Oklahoma K-3 students, which demonstrates that learners who scored above the cut score on the ELQA had a higher rate of proficiency on the 3rd grade state assessment and the measure was highly sensitive to identifying children with future reading difficulties. Ms. Quillian discussed how teachers and reading specialists can use this cut score and the ELQA targets to identify children who need additional support and differentiate instruction based on children's individual needs.

“It's no secret that positive learning experiences and early intervention in Pre K and Kindergarten are the difference between future academic struggles or success,” said Quillian. “We showed principals how precise progress monitoring with ELQA can build the knowledge and expand the intervention strategies of their early childhood educators to create an optimal learning environment for 4- and 5-year-olds.” For more information on the ECEI’s longitudinal study, please click the link to access the ELQA Kindergarten Literacy Technical Manual