Dr. Dan Offord and Dr. Magdalena Janus developed the EDI at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University in Canada in the late 1990s. Since then, it has been implemented in over 30 countries, including its introduction in the United States in 2008.  The UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities serves as the Technical Assistance administrator and licensee for the national administration of the EDI in the US.

The results in this Story Map reflect data collection by participating kindergarten teachers during the 2021 - 2022 school year(s). In addition, 2021 - 2022 data were combined with data that were collected in the prior two school years, if applicable.

Students are not present for the training session or while teachers are completing their EDI questionnaires. The format of teacher training and teacher compensation for participation are determined by the leaders at participating district(s) and/or the EDI funder for the community.

District K-Readiness Team: LAUSD is the first school district within the nationwide Early Development Instrument (EDI) effort to provide a K-Readiness team to support participating schools in areas identified as needs on the EDI. The team is comprised of Instructional Coaches and Psychiatric Social Workers (PSW) who work with their identified school administration along with kinder and first grade teachers to build capacity for culturally responsive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies that can promote academic success and address the disproportionate number of Black students suspended from school and in special education. The work includes collaboration with teachers in Data-Strategy Teaching, choosing topics, focus and specific strategies for supporting the needs in the classroom.

Virtual Community Resource Fairs are a Community Resource Fair in partnership with LA Unified Wellness Programs and the Kindergarten Readiness Team. Community organizations share resources and connect the assets of the community available to families such as mental health services, housing, food, and medical services.