Early screening for reading and language difficulties to spot kids at risk
Official title: Project 4- Population level language and literacy screening: An early warning system for word and language related reading disabilities (T4)
Funded at Florida State University · NIH-11401803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A high-level program is testing a way to screen language and reading skills in young children so teachers can identify those who might have reading difficulties early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2006 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,870 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD052120-19 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 who are at risk for reading and language difficulties, including those in diverse communities.
✕Less likely to help
Children without early risk indicators or those not in the screened populations may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses population-level data to look at how early language and literacy measurements predict later word-reading problems, with added community context to improve accuracy. It aims to combine multiple early indicators to better flag children who may develop reading disabilities. A mixed-methods part will also explore how educators use screener results to tailor instruction. The work involves a large dataset from 0-11 year-olds, focusing on identifying risk and informing early interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families and schools could get earlier, more accurate warnings and targeted supports to help children read better sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports that early screening can predict reading outcomes, but incorporating community factors is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida State University
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solari, Emily J. — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: Solari, Emily J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
LabGenie: A Patient-Friendly Tool to Help Older Adults Understand Lab Results
A patient-facing, web-based tool will present older adults with clear, visual explanations of their lab test results to support understanding and everyday health decisions.
-
Precision HIV Prevention for Youth: Building a Youth Learning Health Community
A youth-focused approach uses data and community engagement to improve HIV prevention interventions in North Florida.
-
Adolescent HIV Care: Weight Loss Pill + Digital Counseling Trial
A youth-focused trial tests whether adding a weekly semaglutide weight-loss medicine to tailored digital lifestyle coaching helps overweight teens and young adults living with HIV improve weight and heart health.
-
Understanding artemisinin resistance in malaria parasites
This project looks at how malaria parasites change RNA-handling proteins to survive artemisinin drugs, aiming to help people treated for Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
-
SMART: a program to help people who use drugs in Atlanta stay on HIV prevention and treatment
A new program aims to help people who use drugs in Atlanta, especially those who are unhoused or unstably housed, stay connected to HIV prevention and treatment and related services.
-
Combined effects of PrEP and HIV stigma on PrEP adherence in youth at risk for HIV
A small, patient-friendly study will explore how stigma around PrEP and HIV affects whether at-risk youth stick with PrEP, using real data from teens and young adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.