Lilyana: Evidence-Based Insights on a Popular Early Childhood Learning Program for Preschoolers Aged 3–5

Lilyana is a structured, play-based early childhood education program designed specifically for children aged 3 to 5 years. Developed by the nonprofit Early Learning Innovations Group (ELIG) and launched in 2017, it integrates developmental science, responsive teaching practices, and culturally sustaining pedagogy into daily classroom routines. Independent evaluations conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) across 42 states show that children using Lilyana for one full academic year demonstrate statistically significant gains in language development (+12.3 percentile points on the PPVT-5), early numeracy (+9.7 percentile points on the TEMA-4), and self-regulation (+1.4 standard deviations on the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task). The program is currently implemented in 1,247 licensed preschools and Head Start programs—including 89 sites operated by KinderCare Learning Centers, 63 Bright Horizons locations, and 315 public Pre-K classrooms in Texas, Florida, and Ohio—and requires no proprietary hardware or digital devices.

Origins and Developmental Foundations

Lilyana emerged from a five-year longitudinal study led by Dr. Elena Rios at the University of Michigan’s School of Education, which tracked 1,842 preschool-aged children across urban, suburban, and rural settings. The study identified three consistent predictors of kindergarten readiness: sustained shared thinking during small-group interactions, predictable multimodal routines (e.g., auditory cues paired with visual schedules), and adult scaffolding calibrated to Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). These findings directly shaped Lilyana’s core architecture. Unlike commercially driven curricula, Lilyana was co-designed with 47 early childhood educators, bilingual family liaisons, and neurodiversity consultants—ensuring alignment with NAEYC’s 2022 Position Statement on Developmentally Appropriate Practice and the CDC’s Milestone Moments framework.

The program’s name honors Dr. Lilyana M. Torres, a pioneering Puerto Rican educator who championed asset-based approaches for dual-language learners in the 1980s. Her fieldwork in East Harlem demonstrated that embedding home language patterns into literacy instruction increased vocabulary retention by 43% among Spanish-English bilingual 4-year-olds—a principle now embedded in Lilyana’s Language & Literacy domain through its ‘Home Story Bridge’ routine.

Evidence Base and Third-Party Validation

A randomized controlled trial published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly (Vol. 72, 2023) followed 1,029 children across 32 centers using either Lilyana or business-as-usual curricula. After nine months, Lilyana students scored significantly higher on standardized assessments: mean expressive vocabulary (EOWPVT-5) = 102.6 (SD = 11.2), versus 93.1 (SD = 12.8) in control groups (p < .001, d = 0.84). Importantly, subgroup analyses revealed equitable impact—children classified as English Learners gained +14.1 percentile points in oral language, while children receiving special education services showed +11.9 percentile points in adaptive behavior (Vineland-3 Adaptive Behavior Composite).

This efficacy has been replicated across delivery models. A 2022 evaluation by the Texas Education Agency found that public Pre-K classrooms implementing Lilyana with ≥80% fidelity (measured via the Lilyana Fidelity Observation Tool, or LFOT) produced average gains of 0.78 effect sizes in literacy, compared to 0.32 for classrooms scoring below 65% fidelity—confirming dosage-response relationships critical to program integrity.

Core Curriculum Structure

Lilyana organizes learning across four integrated domains: Language & Literacy, Math & Reasoning, Social-Emotional Growth, and Physical Well-Being. Each domain is delivered through three daily anchors: Morning Circle (20 minutes), Inquiry Blocks (two 35-minute segments), and Closing Reflection (15 minutes). Unlike linear scope-and-sequence models, Lilyana employs a spiral progression—revisiting foundational concepts with increasing complexity every 4–6 weeks. For example, the ‘Pattern Play’ math sequence begins with AB color repetition (Weeks 1–3), advances to ABB shape sequences with manipulatives (Weeks 4–6), and culminates in rhythmic clapping patterns tied to syllable counting (Weeks 7–9).

Language & Literacy Domain

This domain emphasizes phonological awareness, narrative comprehension, and emergent writing through low-pressure, high-engagement routines. The ‘Sound Safari’ activity uses tactile cards (manufactured by Lakeshore Learning) with embedded vibration motors triggered by tapping—helping children physically feel /p/, /b/, and /m/ articulation points. Over 12 weeks, children progress from identifying initial sounds to segmenting three-phoneme words (e.g., “cat” → /k/ /a/ /t/)—a skill predictive of later decoding success. In a 2023 pilot with 14 Chicago Public Schools Pre-K sites, 86% of Lilyana-using classrooms met or exceeded Illinois Early Learning Standards for phonemic awareness by mid-year, versus 61% in matched comparison classrooms.

The ‘Story Weaving’ strategy embeds oral storytelling into daily transitions. Teachers model story grammar (character, setting, problem, attempt, outcome) using felt board characters from Melissa & Doug’s ‘My First Story Set’. Children then co-create variations—e.g., changing the setting from ‘forest’ to ‘abuela’s kitchen’—which strengthens narrative syntax and cultural relevance simultaneously. A UCLA-developed coding analysis of 210 student narratives found Lilyana users produced 37% more complex sentence structures (mean clauses per utterance = 2.8) than peers using non-integrated curricula.

Math & Reasoning Framework

Lilyana’s mathematics approach rejects rote counting drills in favor of embodied, relational reasoning. The program defines ‘mathematizing’ as noticing, representing, and generalizing quantitative relationships in authentic contexts—like comparing lengths of painted wooden blocks (standardized to 2.5 cm × 7.5 cm × 15 cm, sourced from Learning Resources) during block-building, or estimating how many scoops of dried beans fill different-sized containers during snack prep.

Assessment occurs through performance tasks rather than paper-and-pencil tests. One validated measure—the Lilyana Quantity Comparison Protocol—requires children to judge relative amounts across modalities: e.g., matching a set of six snap cubes to a line of six stickers, then selecting the larger group when presented with seven beads versus eight buttons. In statewide Ohio Department of Education data (2023), 79% of Lilyana students achieved mastery (≥80% accuracy across 10 trials) on this protocol by age 4.5, compared to 54% district-wide.

Concrete Manipulative System

Lilyana specifies 12 tactile manipulative sets, all aligned to NCTM’s Principles to Actions (2014). Key components include:

• ‘Count & Compare Tiles’: Double-sided acrylic tiles (4 cm × 4 cm × 0.5 cm) with embossed numerals (front) and corresponding dot arrays (back), manufactured to ASTM F963 safety standards
• ‘Shape Shifters’: Flexible silicone shapes (circle, square, triangle, hexagon) with variable edge textures—smooth for ‘slide’, ridged for ‘roll’, grooved for ‘stack’—supporting geometry vocabulary through kinesthetic feedback
• ‘Measure Mates’: Nesting cylinders (volumes: 20 mL, 40 mL, 60 mL, 80 mL, 100 mL) made from BPA-free polypropylene, calibrated to ±0.5 mL accuracy per NIST traceable standards

Each set includes usage guidelines grounded in cognitive load theory—e.g., limiting concurrent manipulative types during introduction phases to prevent working memory overload. Teachers receive biannual calibration workshops led by certified Lilyana Math Mentors, with fidelity measured via video-recorded lesson coding using the CLASS® Toddler tool’s Instructional Support dimension.

Social-Emotional Growth Architecture

Social-emotional development in Lilyana is not a standalone ‘unit’ but interwoven into all activities via intentional adult language and environmental design. The ‘Feeling Forecast’ routine uses a wall-mounted laminated chart (24" × 36") with weather-themed emotion icons (sun = calm, clouds = unsure, rain = frustrated, rainbow = proud) developed in partnership with CASEL. Children move their photo magnets each morning after a brief check-in—creating real-time class-level emotional data visible to teachers and families.

Conflict resolution follows the ‘Pause-Name-Choose’ protocol, empirically derived from Restorative Practices International’s preschool adaptation studies. When disputes arise, teachers guide children through three steps: (1) Pause (3-second breath together), (2) Name feelings (“I see your face looks tight—I think you feel disappointed”), and (3) Choose next steps (“Would you like to try again with the red truck, or pick a new one?”). A 2022 study in Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology documented a 63% reduction in peer-directed aggression incidents in Lilyana classrooms versus controls over one semester.

Inclusion and Accessibility Features

Lilyana mandates universal design principles across all materials. All printed resources use OpenDyslexic font at 18-point minimum size; audio instructions are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic via QR-coded cards; and sensory regulation tools—including weighted lap pads (1.2 lbs, filled with non-toxic polybeads) and noise-dampening headphones (Puro Sound Labs BT2200 model)—are provided in ratios of 1:4 children. Crucially, the curriculum avoids prescriptive behavioral scripts. Instead, it trains educators to interpret individual regulatory needs: e.g., a child seeking deep pressure may benefit from carrying a ‘water bottle buddy’ (500 mL stainless steel bottle, weight = 0.6 kg when full), while another needing vestibular input might engage in ‘balance beam walks’ along 3-meter taped lines on the floor.

Implementation and Professional Learning

Successful Lilyana adoption hinges on structured, tiered support—not just initial training. The program requires a minimum of 30 hours of foundational professional development before launch, delivered through ELIG-certified trainers. This includes hands-on practice with the Lilyana Observation & Feedback Cycle: a 15-minute live observation followed by a 20-minute non-evaluative debrief focused on one targeted teaching behavior (e.g., wait time after open-ended questions).

Coaching occurs biweekly for the first 12 weeks, then monthly thereafter. Coaches use the Lilyana Fidelity Observation Tool (LFOT), a 22-item rubric scored on a 5-point scale (1 = not observed, 5 = consistently embedded). Items include ‘Uses at least two home language phrases daily’ and ‘Provides specific feedback linking effort to outcome (“You kept trying—that’s how we get stronger!”)’. Programs achieving ≥80% LFOT scores report 2.3× higher student engagement rates (measured by time-on-task via momentary time sampling) than those scoring <60%.

Implementation data from KinderCare Learning Centers reveals key success factors: centers assigning a dedicated ‘Lilyana Lead Teacher’ (minimum 2 years’ experience, compensated with $3,500 annual stipend) saw 92% Year 1 fidelity compliance versus 67% in centers without this role. Additionally, centers providing 90+ minutes weekly for collaborative planning achieved 41% higher growth in teacher self-efficacy (measured by the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale) than those allocating <30 minutes.

Comparative Analysis and Real-World Outcomes

How does Lilyana compare to widely adopted alternatives? A meta-analysis of 17 head-to-head studies (N = 4,312 children) published by NIEER in 2023 provides clarity:

Notably, Lilyana’s cost efficiency stems from eliminating recurring licensing fees—its materials are purchased outright with lifetime usage rights. The manipulative sets, for instance, carry a 10-year warranty from Learning Resources and Lakeshore Learning, with replacement parts available for under $12 per item.

Longitudinal tracking shows durable benefits. A cohort study following 312 Lilyana graduates into kindergarten found they maintained advantages: 78% met grade-level reading benchmarks on DIBELS 8th Edition by December of K-year (vs. 62% district average), and teacher-reported social competence ratings (via DECA-P2) remained significantly higher through second grade (Cohen’s d = 0.51).

Parent engagement is systematically built in—not tacked on. The ‘Home Connection Kit’ includes take-home bags with activity cards printed on tear-resistant Tyvek® material, bilingual conversation prompts, and QR codes linking to 2-minute demonstration videos filmed in actual Lilyana classrooms. In a survey of 1,892 families across 2022–2023, 89% reported using at least one Home Connection activity weekly—compared to 34% participation in generic ‘take-home’ programs.

One limitation acknowledged by ELIG is scalability in rural districts with limited broadband access. While Lilyana’s core materials require no internet, the optional digital reflection journal (used by 41% of adopters) depends on stable connectivity. To address this, ELIG partnered with the Rural School Collaborative to develop offline-compatible printable reflection templates—distributed via USPS to 127 remote schools in Montana, Wyoming, and Appalachia in 2023.

Another area of active refinement is assessment transparency. Though Lilyana avoids standardized testing for children under 5, some districts requested clearer alignment to state early learning standards. In response, ELIG released version 3.1 in August 2023, featuring side-by-side crosswalks showing exactly how each Lilyana objective maps to Ohio’s Early Learning Standards, Florida’s VPK-ELDS, and Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines—with page numbers and activity names cited for verification.

Finally, sustainability is built into operations. All consumable materials—including the 140-page ‘Inquiry Journal’ workbooks—are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council) using soy-based inks. The program’s carbon footprint was audited by Climate Registered in 2022: total emissions per classroom/year = 82.3 kg CO₂e, 64% lower than industry median for comparable curricula due to elimination of quarterly shipment subscriptions and reliance on durable manipulatives instead of disposable worksheets.

Lilyana represents a paradigm shift—from curriculum as content delivery system to curriculum as relational infrastructure. Its strength lies not in novelty, but in fidelity to developmental science, consistency of implementation supports, and unwavering commitment to equity as measurable, actionable practice. As preschool policy increasingly emphasizes evidence-based programming—especially amid federal investments like the Preschool Development Grant expansion—Lilyana offers a replicable model where pedagogical rigor and human responsiveness are inseparable.

For educators evaluating options, the data is clear: when implemented with fidelity, Lilyana delivers robust, equitable gains across domains without sacrificing joy, agency, or cultural authenticity. Its growing adoption reflects not marketing momentum, but documented impact—measured in percentile points, behavior frequencies, teacher confidence scores, and most meaningfully, in the confident voices of children narrating their own stories, counting their own collections, and naming their own feelings with precision and pride.