Jeff Beal, Ph.D. Office of Standards and Assessment

Purpose To provide teachers and parents with important criterion-based information about a child’s learning and development in five domains at the beginning of kindergarten. Kindergarten Entry Assessment

Six Domains Mathematics Language Literacy Cognitive/Approaches toward Learning Social and Emotional Development Physical and Motor Development Kindergarten Entry Assessment

Integration with existing state P-20 longitudinal data system Professional development for trainers, schools, and kindergarten teachers Outreach and education for parents and families KEA Components

KEA Request for Proposals was issued March 22, 2013 Teaching Strategies GOLD online was chosen as the pilot assessment KEA Assessment

June 2013 Recruited schools to participate in Fall 2013 Pilot Recruited trainers to train the kindergarten teachers participating in the pilot Held Focus Groups Compiled and analyzed results of Focus Groups to inform our communications and teacher training Fall 2013 KEA Pilot

July 2013 Conducted Accreditation Program for Trainers 27 trainers were accredited and are available to train kindergarten teachers for the next three years August 2013 Trained nearly 300 kindergarten teachers who participated in the pilot All Michigan trainers were shadowed by a TS GOLD ® trainer during their initial training session Three training options were provided: in-person, webinar, and online Fall 2013 KEA Pilot

Used assessment without customization September 3–October 18 was the observation window November 1 was the final date to submit assessment data 68 districts, 81 schools, 163 teachers, and 3,755 students successfully participated Report Availability Student, classroom, school, and district reports were immediately available Fall 2013 Pilot

Fall 2014 Field test Recruitment of schools statewide Train additional kindergarten teachers using online modules September – October field test Fall 2015 Statewide implementation Recruitment of schools statewide Train additional kindergarten teachers using online modules September – October Census 2014 and 2015 Implementation Activities

Enhanced Assessment Grant Consortium The State of Maryland created a seven state consortium (Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Nevada), and applied for and won one of the U.S. Department of Education grants provided to states for the purpose of enhancing the quality of kindergarten entry assessment instruments and systems. The Future of KEA

Development and Implementation Year 1 Development Year 2 Pilot with Special Populations Year 3 Field Test Year 4 Census Enhanced Assessment Grant Consortium

Project Partners WestEd for research and item/task development University of Connecticut for research Johns Hopkins University for professional development and technology Enhanced Assessment Grant Consortium

Initial discussions about the enhanced KEA include: Using technology to expand the kinds of assessment items to include direct performance based items both hands-on and virtual. These items can be used to show student growth over time. Honing the number of observational items to lessen the amount of time it takes to administer the assessment. Developing a three-stage professional development plan that includes understanding the importance of the assessment, administering the assessment reliably, and using the results to inform individual instruction. Enhanced Assessment Grant Consortium

Providing Michigan teachers with increased opportunities to use Kindergarten Entry Assessments in their classrooms and opportunities to mold the next generation of Kindergarten Entry Assessments will ensure a Kindergarten Entry Assessment that provides Michigan with critical developmental information about our students as they begin their k-12 educational experience. Kindergarten Entry Assessment

Jeff Beal Kindergarten Entry Assessment Consultant Office of Standards and Assessment Bureau of Assessment and Accountability Michigan Department of Education KEA Information Contact