A -- Development and Validation of a Language Test for Children Speaking Non-Standard English: A Study of Children Who Speak Black English

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at the National Institutes of Health plans to negotiate an expansion of an existing contract with the University of Massachusetts to develop a language assessment tool specifically designed for preschool children who speak Black English. This work builds upon a current contract focused on creating and validating a language test for school-aged children using non-standard English, with an emphasis on children who speak Black English. The University of Massachusetts has been identified as uniquely qualified to conduct this research, demonstrating specific expertise that supports their continued partnership. This contract expansion is authorized under federal acquisition regulations allowing for negotiation without competition due to the university’s specialized capabilities. The project aims to address the linguistic assessment needs of a younger population, extending the scope of the original study. The contracting officer overseeing this effort is John P DeCenzo, and the solicitation was officially posted in December 2003. This initiative reflects a targeted effort to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment tools that can better evaluate language development in children who speak African American Vernacular English during their early childhood years.