Delaware Outcomes Project: Plans for the Future

1. Delaware Outcomes Project Plans for the Future Jim Lesko Delaware Department of Education

2. Delaware Vision • To develop an early childhood performance monitoring system that supports curriculum planning and examines the ongoing effectiveness of instruction

3. Measurement Plans • Multiple measurement options • Using a criterion referenced – performance assessment measurement framework • Individual programs will be able to choose measures from a list • One teacher may even use more than one instrument dependent upon the children’s needs within the classroom • Combination of observation and/or interview • Assessments will be completed by either an individual teacher or a team • Measurement will initially take place within 45 days of enrollment

4. Measurement Plans • Reassessment will occur in March of each calendar year • Capture exiting children • We anticipate that local programs will score the assessments and use the information for intervention planning • We have a statewide data tracking system that will accumulate the data • We anticipate that, in most cases, the state will make the conversions for SPP reporting

5. Some Rationale • We are going with multiple measures because: • Promotes inclusion • Supports diversity among children and staff • Supports capacity issues among staff • Reflects respect for individual programs • Anticipate a closer link between assessment and intervention

6. A Framework for Developing a Child and Family Outcomes System Determine purpose of outcome system, select outcome areas and develop outcome statements for: Infant/toddlers Preschoolers Families and consider related evidence statements 4 1 2 2 Revise state data and monitoring systems Determine evidence statements, data collection tools and measurement and methods 5 6 Develop capacity to provide in-service training, professional development, and technical assistance Provide in-service training and TA to local program administrators, providers and families 3 Conduct pilot test of collections related to selected outcomes and evidence statements 7 Implement data collection and reporting by local programs across the state . . . . . . . . . . meaningful stakeholder involvement and strategic communication throughout all activities. . . . . . . . . .

7. Next Step for Delaware Outcomes Project Pilot Study

8. Delaware OutcomesPilot Study Purpose of Pilot Study 1. To field test the child outcomes system: • In different settings and programs • With children of diverse abilities • Involve educators, therapists and families 2. To provide information on the process 3. To enable the statewide advisory group to make informed decisions based on data

9. Delaware Piloting • There are many questions that can only be answered by trying this out with teachers and providers • We are working with programs to see if: • they can use the information provided by the assessment measures to meaningfully quantify where children are with regard to each outcome • to determine the adequacy of the measures to assist with intervention planning

10. Pilot Study • Looking for which assessment measures work best with specific groups of children [age, disability, setting, service type] • Examining the process for collecting and accumulating data • Determining how we will analyze the data

11. Pilot Study • Preschool [Approximately 90 children] • Six School Districts • One Head Start Program • One State Prekindergarten • Four State-wide Programs for Children with Low-Incidence Disabilities • Infant/Toddlers [Approximately 90 children] • Birth to Three Program • Two Community Early Intervention Providers • One Early Head Start Program • One Early Care and Education Setting

12. Pilot Study Assessment Measures to be used: • Brigance Developmental Inventory • Carolina Curriculum for Preschool • Carolina Curriculum for Infants/Toddlers • Desired Results - Access • Ounce Scale • Vineland Early Childhood Assessment • Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) • Creative Curriculum Preschool • Creative Curriculum – Infant/Toddler • Work Sampling • Hawaii Early Learning Profile

13. Next Steps • We linked sites with assessments. In some cases sites were already using the measures • Currently in the process of training users on the instruments • Collect our first set of data • Establish a data management process • Make some decisions about instruments and data collection

14. Next Steps • In some cases, we using two measures on the same child – observation/criterion referenced and interview to determine the strength of the interview measures • We are using the Child Summary Form on all children – focusing on children with severe involvement – to determine the strength of the performance measure to capture small changes

15. Interesting things we have learned already • Providers will need to have knowledge of typical child development • Providers will need skill enhancement in performance assessment and observation • Some providers don’t spend enough time with the child to know how the child is doing comprehensively in his/her development • Many providers have not been doing any kind of ongoing progress monitoring • Measurement of children that are severely involved will be challenging

16. Where to after this? • Make determination on what instruments we will initially recommend • Set-up comprehensive professional development opportunities • Further determine strategies for data collection and management • Establish policies and procedures for the process