Federal award will support the next phase of research and development for Prelude’s music-based early literacy platform for children ages 2–6
Key Highlights
- NIH SBIR Phase II award provides $2 million to advance research and development of Prelude Early Learning’s music-based early literacy platform.
- Phase II builds on Prelude’s successful Phase I research, which evaluated an innovative approach combining evidence-based early literacy instruction, music, play, and interactive technology.
- The award will support a clinical trial to validate Prelude’s work to help young children build foundational language and literacy skills before kindergarten.
PORTLAND, OR; September 28, 2026 – Prelude Early Learning, an early childhood education company developing research-backed music-based literacy solutions for young children, today announced that it has been awarded a $2 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant from Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The 2-year award will support the development and research on the efficacy of the methodology, curriculum, and technology. The award follows Prelude’s Phase I research and marks the next stage in the development and evaluation of its early literacy platform for children ages 2–6.
“This is a defining moment for Prelude,” said Emily Cadiz, Founder and CEO of Prelude Early Learning. “What began as a way to help young children build language through music has grown into years of research, development, and collaboration with educators and families. This Phase II award gives us the opportunity to deepen that work, strengthen the evidence behind it, and move closer to our goal of helping every child enter kindergarten with the foundation they need to learn to read.”
Advancing the Research Behind Early Literacy
Prelude’s flagship program, Finnegan the Dragon, is a blended early learning system that combines speech-to-print instruction, music, play, and voice-powered technology to strengthen foundational language and pre-reading skills.
Rather than using technology as a passive learning experience, Prelude is designed to get young children actively participating. Children listen. They speak. They sing. They play. Classroom instruction connects with interactive digital experiences at home, creating opportunities for children to practice foundational skills across their learning environments.
Earlier classroom research with Head Start students demonstrated significant gains in targeted pre-reading skills after eight weeks of use, including 45% growth in syllable awareness, 90% growth in rhyme awareness, and 250% growth in sound awareness.
The Phase II award will enable Prelude to build on its earlier research through a clinical trial involving approximately 200 children across 12 classrooms. The study will evaluate the effectiveness and usability of Prelude’s music-based, guided learning system in early childhood settings.
“Our preliminary results were extremely positive and an important starting point. This grant will enable a larger, more robust study to verify and expand on the efficacy of the first phase. This Phase II trial will help us understand both how well the program works and how teachers can effectively use it in everyday daycare, preschool, and classroom settings,” said Jeff Welch, Ed.D., Lead Educational Researcher for Prelude Early Learning.
Building the Evidence for What Comes Before Reading
Children do not enter kindergarten as a blank slate. The foundations for reading begin well before a child enters elementary school. During the early years, children develop skills such as oral language and phonological awareness that prepare them for later reading instruction.
Prelude’s learning model focuses on this critical period before kindergarten.
Its 30-week classroom curriculum combines educator-led instruction with music and play, while voice-powered digital experiences reinforce learning beyond the classroom. The model is designed to turn music and technology into a tool for active participation, prompting children to listen, respond, speak, sing, and engage with language.
“Early literacy begins long before a child learns their letters,” Cadiz said. “It starts with sounds. Then words. Then conversations. And it grows every time a child gets to use their voice. We believe those earliest moments deserve the same level of research, innovation, and investment as every other stage of a child’s education.”
The NIH SBIR program supports U.S. small businesses pursuing research and development with the potential for commercialization and public benefit. Prelude’s Phase II award will support the continued research, development, and evaluation of its early literacy platform, helping the company build the evidence needed to bring its approach to more educators, children, and families.
About Prelude Early Learning
Prelude Early Learning is an early literacy platform designed to close the kindergarten readiness gap through joyful, science-backed solutions. Its flagship program, Finnegan the Dragon, blends music, play, and speech-to-print curriculum to support early literacy development in children ages 2–6.
Founded by Emily Cadiz, an educator, musician, mother of three, and Columbia University graduate, Prelude is committed to reimagining how children experience the earliest stages of literacy, making learning active, inclusive, and fun.
Learn more: preludeearlylearning.com
Media Contact:
hello@preludeearlylearning.com
Source: Prelude Early Learning
*Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44HD115460. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.