Early Literacy Consulting · Birth to Five

Is this child behind, or is this child different?

Most screening tools were normed around one kind of child. Apex helps Head Start, Georgia Pre-K, and district programs read the data clearly, train their teams, and give every child the language and literacy foundation to enter kindergarten ready.

Book a 20-minute discovery call → See how Apex works
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Ph.D. in early childhood and elementary education with a focus on Early Literacy 30 years as Certified Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) 15 years of Scholarly Equity-centered research of Early Literacy birth through five years of age
The Research Gap

A low score isn’t always the whole story

Early literacy screenings provide valuable information, but no single assessment can fully capture a child’s strengths, potential, or learning needs.

Children bring diverse experiences, developmental pathways, communication styles, and learning profiles to the classroom. When screening results are interpreted without considering the whole child, educators may overlook important strengths, misunderstand instructional needs, or miss opportunities for early support.

Apex exists to help schools and early childhood programs move beyond scores alone. We help educators understand what assessment data mean, interpret results within the broader context of child development, and connect those findings to evidence-based instruction.

“Is this child behind, or is this child different?”

The question Apex was built to answer with clinical authority, not guesswork. It begins with the screening data and ends with a clear next step: a referral, a different assessment, or more instruction in the child’s home language.

Five children of different backgrounds lying on the floor together reading picture books in a library
The Approach

Three disciplines, one practice.

Apex brings Literacy Coaching & Professional Learning, Technical Assistance for Early Literacy Programs, and Early Literacy Assessment & Instructional Consultation together under a single clinical roof.

Speech-Language Pathology

A working clinical license (CCC-SLP) that can distinguish a language disorder from a literacy deficit or a teaching gap, and can administer and interpret assessments that are appropriate and customary to all children in Early Literacy Instruction.

The Science of Reading

Instruction and coaching grounded in how children learn to read, then translated into what your classrooms do on Monday morning, not a binder that sits on a shelf.

Equity-Centered Research

A doctorate built on assessing the trends of Early Literacy in our nation and finding the solutions to improve the standards of School Readiness with intensive consultative measures and strategic, clinical intervention.

What Apex Does

From a first screening to a whole program.

Bundle these as a partnership →
01

Needs Assessment

A clear read on where your program stands today, from screening practices to instruction to kindergarten-readiness gaps, before anyone recommends a fix.

02

Staff Training

Training days that stick: practical, classroom-ready sessions on early language, the Science of Reading, and reading screening data without misreading children.

03

Child Screening

Clinically grounded screening and interpretation, so a flagged score becomes a real answer, not just a number on a spreadsheet.

04

Instructional Coaching

Side-by-side coaching that builds teacher confidence and consistency, tuned to the children each classroom actually serves.

05

Family Workshops

Sessions that bring families into the literacy work, honoring home language and dialect as an asset, never a problem to correct.

06

Program Evaluation

Evidence you can take to a board or funder: what changed, what it means, and where to invest next.

Why Apex

Expertise That Builds Better Readers.

Apex partners with schools, districts, and early childhood organizations to strengthen early literacy outcomes through expert consultation, professional learning, technical assistance, and implementation support.

Why Organizations Choose Apex

  • Early Literacy Expertise – Deep expertise in the science of early literacy and the instructional practices that prepare children for reading success.
  • Speech and Language Expertise – A unique understanding of how oral language, vocabulary, listening comprehension, phonological awareness, and communication support literacy development.
  • Evidence-Based Practices – Every recommendation is grounded in current research and translated into practical, classroom-ready strategies.
  • Assessment That Informs Instruction – We help educators use assessment data to make purposeful instructional decisions that accelerate learning.
  • Professional Learning That Builds Capacity – Coaching and training equip educators with sustainable practices they can confidently implement.
  • Technical Assistance That Strengthens Systems – We help schools and organizations develop effective literacy frameworks, implementation plans, and continuous improvement processes.
  • From Research to Results – We bridge research and practice by turning proven literacy science into meaningful classroom instruction.
  • Collaborative Partnerships – We work alongside administrators, literacy leaders, and teachers to improve instruction and student outcomes.
  • Sustainable Impact – Our focus is on building educator knowledge and organizational capacity that continues to benefit children long after our work is complete.
Diverse elementary students with hands raised in a classroom, seen from behind, world map on the wall
Why it matters

Every raised hand is a child who was met where they are.

Annual Partnership

Built for programs that want a partner, not a vendor.

Individualized training and screenings get you started. The annual partnership is where Apex walks in with the framework already built and stays through the year, base camp to summit.

Base Camp

Essentials

A focused foundation for a single site finding its footing.

  • Annual needs assessment
  • Two staff training days
  • One screening cycle with interpretation
  • Quarterly check-ins
Start with a call
Preferred The Ascent

Full Partnership

The complete Apex model for a program ready to move the readiness numbers.

  • Everything in Essentials
  • Ongoing instructional coaching
  • Two screening cycles + referral guidance
  • Family workshop series
  • Year-end program evaluation
Start with a call
The Summit

District

Multi-site reach with a shared standard across every classroom.

  • Everything in Full Partnership
  • Multi-site coordination
  • Apex-trained contractor SLPs
  • Board- & funder-ready reporting
  • Priority access year-round
Start with a call

Every partnership begins with a discovery call: no proposal, no obligation, just a clear read on fit.

Corey E. Evans
Ph.D., CCC-SLP · Founder
  • Ph.D.Ph.D. in early literacy
  • CCC-SLPLicensed Speech-Language Pathologist
  • 30Years of hands-on practice in pediatric early childhood (birth – five)
  • GAServing Head Start, Pre-K & districts statewide
About

A practice born from a commitment to early literacy.

Apex was founded on a simple belief: early literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning.

The earliest years of a child’s life are critical for developing the language, literacy, and thinking skills that support future success, yet many educators and early childhood programs need practical guidance turning that research into meaningful classroom instruction. That need inspired the creation of Apex.

Founded by Dr. Corey E. Evans, Apex brings together expertise in early literacy, speech and language development, and evidence-based instruction to help schools build stronger literacy foundations for every child. We partner with educational leaders through coaching, technical assistance, and sustainable systems that improve outcomes across classrooms and programs.

What sets Apex apart is the integration of deep literacy expertise with a clinical understanding of children’s language development, connecting assessment, instruction, and implementation in ways that are practical and research-informed. That’s why Apex exists: to help educators build stronger literacy foundations today so children are prepared for success tomorrow.

Signed, Corey E. Evans, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Founder, Apex Language & Literacy Group

Every child, regardless of background, dialect, or zip code, deserves to enter kindergarten with the language and literacy foundation to thrive.

Apex Language & Literacy Group
Careers

Apex is hiring clinicians and specialists.

Speech-Language Pathologists across DeKalb, Henry, and Gwinnett Counties, and Literacy Specialists nationwide. CFY candidates welcome.

See open roles →
Start Here

Book a 20-minute discovery call.

No pitch deck, no obligation. We’ll talk about where your kindergarten-readiness numbers stand and whether Apex is the right fit, before anything is proposed.

  • For Head Start, Georgia Pre-K, and district leaders
  • A clear, clinical read on your screening practices
  • The next step is a conversation, not a contract

I read every inquiry myself, and I reply within two business days.

Signed, Corey E. Evans, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Your details stay with Apex. No newsletters, no sales lists.