We worry about what a child will be tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. --Stacia Tauscher

Creating a Meaningful Approach to Accountability Results Matter Creating a Meaningful Approach to Accountability

Colorado’s Early Childhood Landscape Local control philosophy High levels of collaboration Extensive systems work Pilot communities as learning labs Early outcomes work driven locally

Colorado Early Childhood Systems Work Initiatives Team Sec 619, Part C, State Operated Preschool, Child Care Quality Enhancement, Prevention Housed in Education Collaborative Efforts Blended Funding

Colorado Early Childhood Systems Work State Systems Team Larger stakeholder group Education, Special Education/Early Intervention, Head Start, Public Health, Child Care, Families, Appraisal Systems, Resource and Referral, Foundations, Mental Health State Systems Team Task Forces Strategic Planning Organizational Structure Public Engagement Policy Funding Evaluation and Outcomes

Colorado Early Childhood Consolidated Pilots 18 pilot communities across the state Learning community for state systems work Legislative authority w/ waiver capabilities Local leadership development Comprehensive systems development Program Evaluation Data driven decision making

What was the Impetus for Our Outcomes Work? In the beginning and still… Colorado’s work toward a comprehensive system of care and education More recently influenced by… Increasing emphasis on accountability at the local level

The Part C Team Began to But found that Collect family data on their perceptions of experiences and outcomes Collect child outcomes data based on IFSP outcomes But found that Explicitly defined outcomes were necessary in order to best utilize the data.

The Preschool Team Began to develop…. But found that… Outcomes, indicators and rubrics A new and “perfect” measurement tool An information management system But found that… There is no perfect measurement tool The tools proposed were not an improvement on existing tools What had evolved was at odds with what the team believed to be right

Pausing to Reflect As a team, we revisited our purposes and core values with regard to assessment practices, data collection and accountability.

The purpose of our early childhood outcomes project is to Document, describe and value child progress over time Inform and influence day-to-day interactions and interventions by the adults in a child’s life Inform and influence program planning Inform and influence policy development Demonstrate program efficacy Positively influence the lives of children and families.

Core Values Guiding Colorado Decision Making The system should Be inclusive of all children Represent a birth to five model Be multi-dimensional Serve multiple purposes Respect local efforts

Core Values Guiding Colorado Decision Making The child outcome measures should Be based on sound theory and research Be contextualized, naturalistic, authentic Be culturally and linguistically sensitive Be ongoing Utilize information from primary caregivers including families

New Directions Child Short Term Progress Data The Ounce Work Sampling Developmental Checklist Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum High/Scope Child Observation Record

New Directions Child Longitudinal Data % of students on Individual Literacy Plans in Kindergarten, First and Second Grades Special education entrance and exit data Retention rates Colorado K-12 Student Assessment Program Continued engagement with the education system (graduation, formal transition following secondary level, etc)

New Directions Feedback from Key Stakeholders Survey of family perceptions of child progress Survey of kindergarten teacher perceptions of school readiness Family satisfaction surveys based on program quality standards

New Directions Family Outcomes Data Family engagement in their child’s program.

New Directions Program Quality Data Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale Family Day Care Environmental Rating Scale Also capture links for programs who have NAEYC Accreditation Qualistar Rating

Current Activities Ongoing update & feedback sessions with Consolidated Pilot Coordinators Presentations of model to key stakeholder groups Aligning of data systems Reviewing and cross walking assessment systems Summer symposium on observation, documentation and ongoing assessment Field test in select communities 2005/2006

Lessons Learned (so far) A diverse and balanced work group results in balanced work product Planning for ongoing staff development is key Strategic planning about how to engage and inform various stakeholder groups is essential When the pressure is on, it’s easy to drift from core values…

Not everything that can be measured counts, and not everything that counts can be measured. --Albert Einstein