justice's research has focused on early interventions to support emergent literacy, especially for children growing up in low-income families and for children with specific language impairment (also known as developmental language disorder). her collaborative research highlights the role of parent involvement in literacy interventions and the need for professional development to support teachers of children growing up in at-risk economic circumstances. other research has investigated effects of poverty on toddler's early language skills and the impact of quality preschool programs on children's academic gains.