The Oregon Kindergarten Assessment Training for Early Learning Hubs 2013 Kara Williams Early Education to K-3 Specialist ODE Office of Learning-Student Services Brett Walker Early Learning Initiatives Coordinator ODE Early Learning Division

Overview  The purpose of a statewide kindergarten assessment  Selection, Pilot, and Implementation of the Kindergarten Assessment  The fall 2013 Kindergarten Assessment  Accommodations  Putting the Kindergarten Assessment in Context  Alignment with Oregon’s Learning Standards  Kindergarten Assessment Data  Next Steps  Resources

The Purpose for a Statewide Kindergarten Assessment  The Oregon Kindergarten Assessment will provide a common understanding of what children know and are able to do upon entering school.  A common statewide assessment will provide a statewide perspective that will allow the tracking of trends and progress over time.

Background  HB 4165 directs ELC and ODE to jointly develop a kindergarten readiness assessment to pilot in fall 2012 and implement statewide in fall 2013  Fall 2012 Pilot and Pilot Evaluation  Statewide assessment adopted into rule March 8, 2013  Fall 2013 statewide window August 15-October 24, 2013

The 2013 Kindergarten Assessment  Early Literacy (direct assessment)  English letter names  English letter sounds  Spanish syllable sounds*  *only for Spanish Speaking English Language Learners  Early Math (direct assessment)  Numbers and Operations  Approaches to Learning (observational assessment)  Child Behavior Rating Scale

Accommodations  Assessment accommodations are available to all students based on an assessment of individual student need.  May 8, 2013, ODE Accommodations Panel review and recommendations  Training on Accommodations incorporated into regional KA trainings  Kindergarten Assessment table included in the Accommodations Manual

Putting the Kindergarten Assessment in Context Kindergarten Assessment Strengthening Oregon’s Early Learning System Linking Early Learning and K-12 Students Reading on Grade Level by 3 rd Grade Closing Achievement Gaps Increasing Proficiency for All

Alignment with Oregon’s Learning Standards The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework  Literacy Knowledge & Skills  Mathematics Knowledge & Skills  Social & Emotional Development  Approaches to Learning Common Core State Standards  English Language Arts& Literacy: Kindergarten  Mathematics : Kindergarten

State Level Data help measure progress over time Data help target technical assistance to Early Learning Hubs and schools Regional Early Learning Hubs Data help measure progress over time Data help target local supports, strategies and interventions Community Level Schools: Data inform classroom instruction Pre-K providers: Data inform program and curriculum design Application of Kindergarten Assessment Data

The “Look Back” Kindergarten Assessment data provide communities with:  An assessment of areas of strength and areas for growth of all children at the point of kindergarten entry  A starting point for collaboration between schools and Pre-K providers  Valuable information for Pre-K providers to consider when developing and implementing curriculum

Next Steps  October 2013: KA Specifications and Blueprints  November 1, 2013: Data Entry Deadline  November 20-21, 2013: KA Interpretive Panel  December 2013: Report back to districts  January 2014: State Report  February 2014: Hubs/Regional Report  February 2014: Lessons Learned

Resources  Oregon’s Early Learning System  The Oregon Kindergarten Assessment: A Parent’s Guide parents/ parents/  Oregon Department of Education: Kindergarten Assessment Resources  Oregon Kindergarten Assessment Fall 2012 Pilot Process Evaluation: Key Findings and Recommendations  Assessment Accommodations  The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework system/teaching/eecd/Assessment/Child%20Outcomes/HS_Revised_ Child_Outcomes_Framework(rev-Sept2011).pdf system/teaching/eecd/Assessment/Child%20Outcomes/HS_Revised_ Child_Outcomes_Framework(rev-Sept2011).pdf  ODE’s Common Core State Standards Toolkit for Early Childhood  Kindergarten Assessment Test Specifications and Blueprints