Voyager/Sopris Learning Launches We Can Early Learning Curriculum:

DALLAS, Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager/Sopris Learning announced today the release of the We Can™ Early Learning Curriculum, an enhanced and expanded edition of the We Can Early Childhood Curriculum that was originally published in 2002 and used in PreK programs throughout the country to improve the quality of preschool programming and learning opportunities for young children.

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We Can Early Learning Curriculum is a comprehensive preschool program authored by noted early childhood expert, Vicki Gibson, Ph.D. For nearly 30 years, Dr. Gibson has owned and operated three preschools, providing thousands of young children with a strong foundation for learning and positioning them for future academic success. Using this hands-on experience along with her academic expertise, Dr. Gibson developed the effective and transformational We Can program.

The release of We Can Early Learning Curriculum is well-timed as last week the U.S. Department of Education and Health and Human Services announced that Illinois is one of six states to receive a supplemental award of $17,699,347 from the 2013 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant fund to improve quality and expand access to early learning programs across the state.

"The need for quality early learning programs in this country is evident, and we believe this additional funding will be a great opportunity to expand access to high-quality early education programs across the state of Illinois," says George Logue, president of Voyager/Sopris Learning. "We are extremely excited to be launching We Can Early Learning Curriculum and believe it will play a pivotal role in our nation's mandate to strengthen early childhood education for all children."

The newly released We Can incorporates the most recent research and evidence-based practices proven to increase achievement and minimize learning differences by developing strong foundational skills in all early childhood domains. Aligned to the Common Core, the program addresses foundational skills in math and literacy for kindergarteners and includes a high-quality, comprehensive design that integrates instruction, assessment, and classroom management. Special features include easy-to-follow daily lesson plans with suggestions for differentiating teaching and enhancing learning and additional literature selections with explicit guidance for modeling and engaging children with print.

The We Can Early Learning Curriculum aligns with the Foundational Skills and Kindergarten standards included in the Common Core State Standards and Illinois Learning Standards (ILS), Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework and position statements from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). While including the pedagogical and instructional integrity of the original We Can program, it has been enhanced to help teachers:

• Establish classroom management routines that include whole and small group lessons and opportunities for children to choose learning centers
• Integrate content in social studies, language and literacy, numeracy and science using age-appropriate activities
• Teach children to hear sounds and use letters for pre-reading and writing using the comprehensive phonological program, Letters, Sounds and Strokes
• Provide blended learning formats including print and digital options using a new online component, The Learning Zoo

We Can is proven effective for developing readiness for young children's subsequent school success. Evidence of effectiveness is documented in longitudinal studies that report gains in 3 and 4 year old children who attended half-day preschool in a full inclusion model and have sustained those gains; now achieving high scores on the state assessments in reading and math (Dubno, 2011; Dubno, Dugger & Smith, 2013). Significant reductions in referrals to Special Education were also documented in these studies, adding to the research validated practices in We Can.

Read about the Granite School District preschool success using ONLY the management system and curricula in We Can in the Granite School District We Can Case Study and The Voices of Utah Children report.

Learn more about the We Can Early Learning Curriculum at www.voyagerlearning.com/wecan.

About Cambium Learning Group
Cambium Learning Group is a leading educational solutions and services company that is committed to helping all students reach their full potential by providing evidence-based solutions and expert professional services to empower educators and raise the achievement levels of all students. Cambium Learning Group is composed of four business units: Voyager/Sopris Learning (www.voyagerlearning.com | www.soprislearning.com), Learning A-Z® (www.learninga-z.com), ExploreLearning® (www.explorelearning.com), and Kurzweil Educational Systems® (www.kurzweiledu.com) and IntelliTools® (www.intellitools.com). Together, these business units provide best-in-class intervention and supplemental instructional materials; gold-standard professional development and school-improvement services; breakthrough technology solutions for online learning and professional support; valid and reliable assessments; and proven materials to support a positive and safe school environment. For more information, visit www.cambiumlearning.com.

About Voyager/Sopris Learning
Dedicated to the success of every student, Voyage/Sopris Learning are members of Cambium Learning Group, the nation's most comprehensive provider of research-based education solutions and online learning tools - including curriculum products, personalized professional development, assessment, and school improvement/turnaround services. With the ultimate goal of advancing student achievement, Voyager/Sopris Learning partner with preK-12 schools to build teaching and leadership capacity, keep students on track, and accelerate struggling students to grade-level proficiency. We are proud to represent the life's work of world-renowned researchers and education leaders and have a steadfast commitment to translating research into practice, with a proven track record of helping schools and districts boost student participation, improve test scores, and increase graduation rates. Voyager/Sopris Learning is a business unit of Cambium Learning Group Inc. (NASDAQ: ABCD), based in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit VoyagerLearning.com or SoprisLearning.com.

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SOURCE Voyager/Sopris Learning