Measuring Child Outcomes

Kentucky and Massachusetts Measuring Child and Family Outcomes Meeting Baltimore August 27, 2007

Today’s Objectives

• Look at how two states are approaching OSEP requirement to measure child outcomes • Share progress and challenges and how this fits into the big picture • Have a conversation • Know that this is all a work in progress!

Vision – It’s part of a larger effort

Massachusetts • Kindergarten Readiness Assessment System • Universal Pre-K Kentucky • KIDS NOW EC Comprehensive Initiative • Building a Strong Foundation for School Success Series • Kentucky Early Childhood Data System (KEDS)

Implementation in Phases

Massachusetts • 76 districts in Cohort 1 last year • 77 districts in Cohort 2 this year • All districts by 2011 • Collecting progress data on preschoolers fall and spring Kentucky • Public Preschool (Pre-K) – 5 Phases (06-10) • EI – all children (06-07) • Child Care pilot (07-08) with 10 programs

Common Assessments

Massachusetts • UPK Pilot required one of four selected assessments • Cohort groups could use any assessment, but report using COSF developed by ECO Center Kentucky • Use of 12 recommended CR/CBA tools • Pre-K selects at District Level, option to use others per child need • EI selects one of three at child level • Child Care pilots select one tool per program

Approaches for Child Care

Massachusetts • UPK Pilot sites are public schools, child care, and family child care homes • Children receiving related services only – require a conversation with child care provider to access the information on domains Kentucky • Pre-K data collected on

all

children regardless of placement, tracking placement (07-08) • Child care pilot – geographic representation, 3 or 4 STAR centers, subsidy provider • Regional/Community Interagency Agreements include supports for continuity of assessment

Curriculum Standards or Guidelines

Massachusetts • Aligned Preschool Learning Experiences with assessment tools and OSEP requirements • Opportunities to look at child development across domains Kentucky • EC Standards (birth to 5) aligned with K-12, HS, OSEP Outcomes and assessment items • Quality System (QRS and Classrooms of Excellence -CoE) aligned with EC Standards • EC Core Content aligned

Motivation/Incentives

Massachusetts • Programs receiving state Pre-K funding must adopt the Preschool Learning Guidelines and Program Standards • Embedded into new initiatives • Part of a larger system – – Kindergarten Readiness, UPK, QRS Kentucky • Pre-K – EC Standards, KEDS • EI required – Option for CoE – KEDS required • Child Care – Pilot incentive package – Voluntary QRS, EC Standards, Assessment – Must use Credential Training System

Contact Information

Pat Cameron Sr. Policy Specialist, Special Education Early Education and Care 51 Sleeper Street Boston, MA 02210 P: 617-988-7812 F: 617-988-2451 patricia.cameron@ massmail.state.ma.us

www.eec.state.ma.us

Beth Rous, Ed.D.

Director of Early Childhood Associate Professor Human Development Institute University of Kentucky 126 Mineral Industries Bldg.

Lexington, KY 40506-0051 P: 859-257-9116 F: 859-257-2769 [email protected]

www.ihdi.uky.edu