EAST LANSING, Mich. — PAWPrint Concepts, a first-of-its-kind early childhood literacy assessment developed by Michigan State University researchers, will make its national conference debut at the 2026 National Head Start Conference & Expo, May 4–7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Designed to identify print concepts and knowledge gaps in children ages 3–5 (a critical predictor of reading success), the tool is now in print and available nationwide through Ventris Learning.
PAWPrint Concepts pairs a purpose-written children’s book, Forgetful Fred Gets Ready for Bed, with a validated assessment that helps educators and speech-language pathologists determine whether a child understands foundational concepts: how books work, that print carries meaning, reading direction, and more.
Early identification allows teachers to deliver targeted support during a critical developmental window, helping prevent reading difficulties before they emerge.
Robert Meyer, Publisher of Ventris Learning commented: “PAWPrint Concepts is the first validated measure of its type. We’re excited to publish it because educators need better, more time-efficient language and literacy assessments.”
PAWPrint Concepts was created by MSU Department of Human Development and Family Studies researchers Dr. Lori Skibbe and Dr. Ryan P. Bowles, with key support from the MSU Innovation Center.
Technology Manager Julia Miller noted of the collaboration: “The partnership we formed with Ventris during our earlier grant work laid the foundation for licensing PAWPrint Concepts. Ventris is a great collaborator. They already have experience distributing assessment tools from universities.”
The National Head Start Conference, the largest annual gathering dedicated to early childhood education for underserved communities, is a key audience for PAWPrint Concepts. The tool is especially valuable for programs serving English language learners and children with limited book exposure at home — populations where early print concepts screening can be transformative.
Learn More & Get Involved
Learn more about PAWPrint Concepts at ventrislearning.com/pawprint.
For a full look at the research and the team behind PAWPrint Concepts, read the original story: An Innovative Partnership Boosting Early Childhood Literacy Assessment.
About Ventris Learning
Ventris Learning is a publisher of language and literacy innovations, specializing in evidence-based assessment and instructional tools for educators, speech-language pathologists, and families. Learn more at ventrislearning.com.
About the MSU Innovation Center
The MSU Innovation Center supports the commercialization of research, startup creation, and corporate partnerships at Michigan State University. Through technology transfer, venture creation, and industry engagement, the Innovation Center helps transform Spartan research and ideas into market-ready solutions that benefit society and strengthen Michigan’s economy.
Opportunities for Partnership
The MSU Innovation Center is seeking companies and organizations interested in early childhood education, literacy assessment tools, and evidence-based learning technologies.
Whether you’re exploring sponsored research, licensing opportunities, or co-developing validated educational assessments, language development screening tools, or research-to-practice innovations, we’re ready to collaborate.
Interested in partnering with MSU faculty on early literacy research and next-generation educational assessment solutions?
Visit innovationcenter.msu.edu or contact us to start the conversation.