Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA)

1. Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA) Franklin Public Schools School Committee May 27, 2014

2. Agenda • Background • MKEA Initiative • MKEA Details • Teaching Strategies Gold • Domains • Technology Requirements • Timeline • Professional Development • Future • Questions

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. Questions http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/mkea/