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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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)

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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…

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