Champlain Valley Head Start

1. Champlain Valley Head Start Child Outcomes Assessment in Champlain Valley Head Start

2. The Head Start Child Outcomes Framework Head Start conducts child observation and ongoing assessment throughout the child’s enrollment in the program. Using appropriate observation and assessment procedures, staff and parents follow each child’s progress and experiences from the child’s arrival in the program to the time the child leaves. Through this process, they come to know each child’s strengths, interests, needs, and learning styles in order to individualize the curriculum, to build on each child’s prior knowledge and experiences, and to provide meaningful curriculum experiences that support learning and development. In these ways, staff, parents, and programs support each child in making progress toward stated goals.

3. Head Start’s concern with the whole child includes social competence as part of school readiness. Head Start programs gather information to document the process for assuring positive child outcomes. This information addresses all aspects of development and learning, including physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and language, in order to provide an overall picture of the child from program entry to the culmination of the child’s Head Start experience.

4. Head Start Child Outcomes Assessment focuses on eight domains of development Social and Emotional Development Approaches to Learning Language Development Literacy Mathematics Science Creative Arts Physical Health and Development

5. Gathering information to assess children’s progress Information on children’s progress in the domains of development is obtained from multiple sources, such as: -teacher and home visitor observations, -analysis of samples of children’s work and performance, -parent reports, or -direct assessment of children. Head Start assessment practices reflect the assumption that children demonstrate progress over time in development and learning on a developmental continuum, in forms such as increasing frequency of a behavior or ability, increasing breadth or depth of knowledge and understanding, or increasing proficiency or independence in exercising a skill or ability.

6. Collecting and analyzing the data Head Start programs develop a system to analyze data on child outcomes that centers on patterns of progress for groups of children over time as they receive services through the program year. At a minimum, data analysis compares progress beginning when children enter Head Start, at a mid-point in the program year, and when they complete the program year. Data is also analyzed to support ongoing services individualized for children’s needs.

7. Champlain Valley Head Start uses the Work Sampling Online System to Manage and Analyze Child Outcomes Assessment Data

8. The Work Sampling Online System Head Start staff work closely with parents, collaborative partners, and other professionals to observe and record children’s progress in the domains of development. Children’s progress in various skills within a domain area is then assessed in terms of whether the child: -has “not yet” acquired the skill; -is “in process” of acquiring the skill; or -is “proficient” in the skill. These assessments are evaluated three times per program year and entered into the Work Sampling Online database, which is then used to generate reports around patterns of progress in the domain areas.

9. Data-driven programming and services Data analysis on patterns of child outcomes is incorporated into overall program self-assessment in planning for program improvements, such as: -enhanced staff training, mentoring and supervision; -improvements in curriculum and individualized services; -allocation of program resources; -involvement of volunteers and community partners; -new efforts to support families in enhancing children’s learning and development; and -working with community partners, such as planning for transitions of children from Head Start into elementary schools.

10. Champlain Valley Head StartProgram-wide Data Summary2005-2006Proficiency of 3 year olds and 4 year oldsin domain areas

11. Proficiency for Period I, Period II & Period III for the 2005-2006 Program Year:Three Year Old Children

12. Proficiency for Period I, Period II & Period III for the 2005-2006 Program Year:Four Year Old Children

13. Data-driven quality improvement Based upon child outcomes assessment data, CVHS has focused enhancements in the following program areas: Additional staff training: around speech and language development, early literacy, and early math and numeracy skills for preschool children. Curriculum modifications: particularly in the areas of early math activities and experiences, as well as science and exploration activities and experiences. Collaborative partnerships: CVHS is now working closely with ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington around staff training in science-based activities for preschool children, and in sponsoring field trips for Head Start children to visit the ECHO Center.

14. Champlain Valley Head Start