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Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA). Franklin Public Schools School Committee May 27, 2014. Agenda. Background MKEA Initiative MKEA Details Teaching Strategies Gold Domains Technology Requirements Timeline Professional Development Future Questions. MKEA Initiative.
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Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA) Franklin Public Schools School Committee May 27, 2014
Agenda • Background • MKEA Initiative • MKEA Details • Teaching Strategies Gold • Domains • Technology Requirements • Timeline • Professional Development • Future • Questions
MKEA Initiative • From MKEA website: • In collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, EEC is implementing the Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA) system, which will support school districts in using a formative assessment tool that measures growth and learning across all developmental domains during the child’s kindergarten year. As part of the MKEA initiative, school districts will use a formative assessment tool that is evidence based and aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. EEC has identified Teaching Strategies-GOLD System as the assessment tool for cohorts 3 and 4.
MKEA Background • MKEA initiative stems for the federal identification of the need to improve Grade 3 test results across the country • Identified that Birth-5 is where the greatest need is • Ability for federal and state government to impact Birth-5 arena is limited, therefore the impact is on Kindergarten • Federal requirement for compliance is mandatory for Race To The Top states • Must implement a kindergarten entry assessment • Massachusetts is a RTTT state • Franklin receives no RTTT funding, but this impact our Full Day Kindergarten grant monies
MKEA Background • Kindergarten entry assessments provide a snapshot of a child’s development • At least 25 states now have laws mandating some type of kindergarten entry assessment • Kindergarten entry assessments can be used for a variety of purposes • Screening children to identify possible developmental concerns • Providing information to teachers to inform instruction • Providing policymakers information on trends over time to inform policy and funding decisions
MKEA Background • Massachusetts has chosen to extend beyond the federal requirements • All districts with full day Kindergarten grants are required to participate regardless of RTTT status • K Grant funding in Franklin exceeds $200,000 annually • MA is implementing the assessment using a four year phase-in process • We are part of cohort 3 and required to administer these assessments in 2014-2015 or we will lose our K grant funding • Massachusetts selected and is requiring use of a commercial product called Teaching Strategies Gold
Teaching Strategies Gold • From MKEA website: • Teaching Strategies GOLD is an assessment system for children from birth through kindergarten designed to help teachers: observe and document children’s development and learning over time; support, guide, and inform planning and instruction; identify children who might benefit from special help, screening, or further evaluation; and report and communicate with family members and others. Teaching Strategies GOLD also enables to teachers to (1) collect and gather child outcome information as one part of a larger accountability system and (2) provide reports to administrators to guide program planning and professional development opportunities. Teaching Strategies GOLD addresses the following Developmental Domains: (1) Social-Emotional, (2) Physical, (3) Language, (4) Cognition, (5) Literacy, (6) Mathematics, (7) Science and Technology, (8) Social Studies, (9) The Arts, and (10) English Language Acquisition.
Teaching Strategies Gold • Compatible with NAEYC • Teaching Strategies Gold is a comprehensive assessment system • All assessments are based on observing children and recording data • Children are not “tested” using paper/pencil • Will administer a formative (diagnostic) assessment in the fall • Will administer a summative assessment in the spring to determine growth over time • Designed to look at program quality and outcome data • Not a kindergarten readiness tool
Domains • There are 10 domains and 38 objectives covered by Teaching Strategies Gold • Aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks • Covers all aspects of development and learning • MA is requiring that we test all K children next year in parts of 2 domains • Social-Emotional (all objectives) • Cognitive (not all objectives this year) • Approaches to Play and Learning
In 2015-2016 will assess all 10 domains: • Social-Emotional • Physical • Language • Cognitive • Literacy • Mathematics • Science and Technology • Social Studies • The Arts • English Language Acquisition
Technology Requirements • Software program and licenses provided in year one, possibly longer • Long term costs not yet addressed • Teachers must take data while working with students • Teachers will be able to generate reports to access data • Class profile, individual students, development and learning • Family communication tools in the assessment system • Use of a portable device makes this more efficient • Purchasing laptops in this fiscal year from remaining grant funds and operating budgets • Will replace current desktops used by teachers • These will be repurposed in the district • All data must be uploaded to DESE
Professional Development • State mandated training for all teachers involved in administering assessments: • Classrooms, special education, Title I, ELL • Two full days of training is required • State offering limited stipends or compensation for subs to districts • Training to be done by Collaborative Education Services- consulting group • They are the only state approved provider
Timeline • Assessments must be administered by mid-October • Data upload by mid-November • Spring assessment dates not yet set • Training of K teachers arranged for 9/3 and 9/4 • Start date for K student 9/5 (Friday) which will be an orientation day • Principals will develop plan for that day and communicate with families • Students will begin full day K on 9/8 (Monday)
Questions http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/mkea/