Aligning Child Outcome Measurement to Early Learning Standards

NECTAC Outcomes MeetingMonday, August 27, 2007

Indiana’s Accountability Tool Alignment to Early Learning Standards and Child Outcome Measures

Sheron Cochran, Early Education Consultant

Indiana Department of Education

Division of Exceptional Learners

scochran@doe.state.in.us

Topics

Why Alignment is importantWhy ISTAR was selected as Indiana’s Accountability ToolMultiple Levels of Alignment Current Alignment and Validation ActivitiesNext Steps

Indiana Academic Standards, Foundations

to Indiana Academic Standards and

Functional Indicators

Continuous Assessment of

Student Progress

Learning Experiences

and Interventions

CHILD

In the category of:“What is the ISTAR Assessment?”

ISTAR is a web-based assessment system provided free of charge by the Division of Exceptional Learners, Indiana Department of Education.

It utilizes teacher ratings to measure the progress of students. It uses a 3 point rubric.

It is not a “test” but rather was developed as an authentic measure of continuous progress.

The assessment elements are aligned to the Birth to Five Foundations for Young Children (http://www.doe.state.in.us/primetime/welcome.htm) and the Academic Standards for K-9 (http://www.doe.state.in.us/standards/welcome.html

Indiana selectedISTAR because it..............

Is an authentic assessment for ‘ALL’ children.Is capable of measuring SPP/APR indicators as well as requirements of the No Child Left Behind.Supports on-going assessment.Provides parents and teachers with graphic representation of the progress of the child.Helps guide instruction.Is intended to make progress monitoring meaningful.

ISTAR Content andExtensions to the Standards

Content Areas:English/language artsMathematicsFunctional Achievement Skills-Social Emotional

-Physical Skills- Personal Care Skills

Four levels of progress prior to kindergarten: Basic 1 (B1) Birth to two years of ageBasic 2 (B2) Two years of ageFoundations 1 (F1) Three years of ageFoundations 2 (F2) Four years of age

ISTAR Speech Interface……….

Contains 4 areas of skillssocial interactionComprehensionexpressive communicationspeech intelligibility

Students receiving both speech and early childhood services are assessed by the teacher in areas of math, English, and functional skills. The SLP rates communication skills through the SLP interface. When the sole service is speech, the SLP completes the speech interface. OSEP and ECO Center have advised that these four areas must be more robust in order to better cover the 3 child outcomes.

Multiple Levels of Alignment……

The Foundations to the Indiana Academic Standards for Young Children Birth to Age 5 are aligned to the kindergarten academic standards (2002).

ISTAR is aligned to: the Foundations [See copy of English and Math alignment to kindergarten standards] the academic standards (2003)

ISTAR serves as Indiana’s accountability measure for reporting SPP and APR requirements to OSEP in the 3 child outcomes. (2004)

the OSEP indicators are aligned to ISTAR. (2006)

OSEP Outcomes Aligned to ISTAR……………..

Positive social-emotional skillsSocial-Emotional in Functional Skills

Acquisition and use of knowledge and Skills

English/Language Arts Foundations that include a listening and speaking foundationMathematics Foundations

Use of appropriate behaviors to meet needs.

Physical Skills in Functional SkillsPersonal Care Skills in Functional Skills

Multiple Levels of AlignmentCurrent Alignment Activities………

The State of Indiana received a federal GSEG (General Supervision and Enhancement Grant from OSEP) in 2006 for development of a comprehensive statewide assessment.

This effort is in collaboration with First Steps with the intention of creating an integrated system that measures the progress of students from Part C to Part B, simplifying transition processes.

Current Alignment Activities

Assessment and Validation Activities:

Alignment of ISTAR indicators to AEPS (Assessment, Evaluation, & Program System)

Validation of alignment of ISTAR indicators & Foundations to kindergarten standards

Alignment of performance indicators to outcomes (item alignment)

Establish reliability and validity of performance indicators

Extend skill indicators in speech interface to cover all 3 child outcomes.

Validate norms for typically developing children

NEXT STEPS……………………

Extend skill indicators in speech interface to adequately cover all 3 child outcomesRevise ISTAR based on results of studies Incorporate changes into web-based reportingStatewide Training

Categories of Reporting

Maintained peer level

Achieved peer level

Improved near peer

Improved not near peer

Did not Improve