About Us

The American Institutes for Research (AIR)

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a not-for-profit corporation with more than 65 years of experience in education-related research and development projects. AIR has conducted a range of research studies related to early care and education services, school readiness programs that target young, at-risk children, including dual language learners, and a variety of K–12 initiatives in California.  AIR has served as the external evaluator for early education programs and initiatives; examined the implementation, impact, and capacity of teacher professional development programs; contributed to the development of early education systems, standards, and assessments; and evaluated curricula, classroom practices, and program quality through rigorous investigations and reviews. AIR continues to translate research to practice for the federal government and for state governments, including through a recently published synthesis of the condition of children and children’s services in California for the State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care. AIR brings a unique combination of strengths and experience to the DLL Study, including a strong group of researchers who have extensive experience in formative and summative evaluations of programs in California; expertise in early education as well as survey design and program quality assessment; and familiarity with available data on early care and education and student assessments at the elementary level. 

First 5 California

First 5 California was created by voters under the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10) to recognize that children's health and education is a top priority, especially in the early years of development. Since 1998, First 5 California has invested millions of dollars to design comprehensive programs that address the needs of children ages 0 to 5 and their families. Currently, its programs are centered around the child, parent, and teacher to improve early childhood outcomes in the areas of health and nutrition, early literacy and language development, quality child care, and smoking cessation.

DLL Pilot Input Group

The DLL Pilot Study was created with guidance and input from leading DLL experts across the country. The members of the DLL Input group include:

Linda Asato, Patty Brown, Abby Cohen, Carolyne Crolotte, Linda Espinosa, Mari Estrada, Elena Fajardo, Katie Fallin, Veronica A. Fernandez, Cecelia Fisher-Dahms, Gel Gonzalez, Sandra Gutierrez, Whitcomb Hayslip, Lupe Jaime, Kim Johnson, Moira Kenney, Michael L. López, Peter Mangione, Meera Mani, Elizabeth McGruder, Ingrid X. Mezquita, Laurie Olsen, Chhandasi Pandya Patel, Vickie Ramos Harris, Francine Rodd, Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Seng Yang, and Marlene Zepeda.

Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

Providing technical and methodological guidance, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) with expertise in early education (preK–grade 3), school readiness, assessment, and outcome evaluation, served as consultants to AIR throughout the study. Members of the TAG include:

• Linda Espinosa, Ph.D., Professor of Early Childhood Education (Ret.) at the University of Missouri, Columbia has served as the Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University and Vice President of Education at Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Her research and policy work has focused on effective curriculum and assessment practices for young children from low-income families who are dual language learners.
• Doré Laforett, Ph.D., is an Advanced Research Scientist at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. Her research on young children’s school readiness and mental health spans the promotion, prevention, and treatment continuum, with a heavy emphasis on low-income, ethnic minority, and dual language learning populations.
• Yuuko Uchikoshi, EdD, Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on language and literacy development of young children, particularly dual language learners.
• Mariela Páez, Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College. Her research interests include bilingualism, children’s language and literacy development, and early childhood education.