11

Champlain Valley Head StartChamplain Valley Head Start

Child Outcomes Assessment Child Outcomes Assessment in in

Champlain Valley Head Champlain Valley Head StartStart

22

The Head Start Child Outcomes Framework

Head Start conducts child observation and ongoingHead Start conducts child observation and ongoingassessment throughout the child’s enrollment in theassessment throughout the child’s enrollment in theprogram. Using appropriate observation and assessmentprogram. Using appropriate observation and assessmentprocedures, staff and parents follow each child’s progressprocedures, staff and parents follow each child’s progressand experiences from the child’s arrival in the program toand experiences from the child’s arrival in the program tothe time the child leaves. Through this process, they comethe time the child leaves. Through this process, they cometo know each child’s strengths, interests, needs, andto know each child’s strengths, interests, needs, andlearning styles in order to individualize the curriculum, tolearning styles in order to individualize the curriculum, tobuild on each child’s prior knowledge and experiences, andbuild on each child’s prior knowledge and experiences, andto provide meaningful curriculum experiences that supportto provide meaningful curriculum experiences that supportlearning and development. In these ways, staff, parents,learning and development. In these ways, staff, parents,and programs support each child in making progressand programs support each child in making progresstoward stated goals.toward stated goals.

33

Head Start’s concern with the whole child includes social competence as part of school readiness. Head Startprograms gather information to document the process

forassuring positive child outcomes. This informationaddresses all aspects of development and learning, including physical, emotional, social, cognitive, andlanguage, in order to provide an overall picture of the

childfrom program entry to the culmination of the child’s Head Start experience.

44

Head Start Child Outcomes Head Start Child Outcomes Assessment focuses on eight Assessment focuses on eight domains of developmentdomains of development

Social and Emotional DevelopmentSocial and Emotional Development

Approaches to LearningApproaches to Learning

Language DevelopmentLanguage Development

LiteracyLiteracy

MathematicsMathematics

ScienceScience

Creative ArtsCreative Arts

Physical Health and DevelopmentPhysical Health and Development

55

Gathering information Gathering information to assess children’s progressto assess children’s progress

Information on children’s progress in the domains of developmentis 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 childrendemonstrate progress over time in development and learning on adevelopmental continuum, in forms such as increasing frequency of abehavior or ability, increasing breadth or depth of knowledge andunderstanding, or increasing proficiency or independence in

exercising askill or ability.

66

Collecting and analyzing the Collecting and analyzing the datadata

Head Start programs develop a system to analyze data onchild outcomes that centers on patterns of progress forgroups of children over time as they receive servicesthrough the program year. At a minimum, data analysiscompares progress beginning when children enter Head Start, at a mid-point in the program year, and whenthey complete the program year. Data is also analyzed tosupport ongoing services individualized for children’s needs.

77

Champlain Valley Head Start Champlain Valley Head Start uses the Work Sampling uses the Work Sampling

Online System Online System to Manage and Analyze to Manage and Analyze

Child Outcomes Assessment Child Outcomes Assessment DataData

88

The Work Sampling Online The Work Sampling Online SystemSystem

Head Start staff work closely with parents, collaborative partners, andHead Start staff work closely with parents, collaborative partners, and

other professionals to observe and record children’s progress in the other professionals to observe and record children’s progress in the

domains of development. Children’s progress in various skills within adomains of development. Children’s progress in various skills within a

domain area is then assessed in terms of whether the child:domain area is then assessed in terms of whether the child:

-has “not yet” acquired the skill;-has “not yet” acquired the skill;

-is “in process” of acquiring the skill; or-is “in process” of acquiring the skill; or

-is “proficient” in the skill.-is “proficient” in the skill.

These assessments are evaluated three times per program year andThese assessments are evaluated three times per program year and

entered into the Work Sampling Online database, which is then used entered into the Work Sampling Online database, which is then used toto

generate reports around patterns of progress in the domain areas. generate reports around patterns of progress in the domain areas.

99

Data-driven programming and Data-driven programming and servicesservices

Data analysis on patterns of child outcomes is incorporated into overall program self-assessment in planning for programimprovements, 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.

1010

Champlain Valley Head Champlain Valley Head StartStart

Program-wide Data Program-wide Data SummarySummary2005-20062005-2006

Proficiency of 3 year olds Proficiency of 3 year olds and 4 year oldsand 4 year olds

in domain areas in domain areas

1111

Proficiency for Period I, Period II & Period Proficiency for Period I, Period II & Period III for the 2005-2006 Program Year:III for the 2005-2006 Program Year:

Three Year Old ChildrenThree Year Old Children

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Per

cent

ages

SocialEmotional

Development

Approachesto Learning

LanguageDevelopment

Literacy Math Science Creative Arts PhysicalHealth &

Development

Domains

Period 1 Period 2 Period 3

1212

Proficiency for Period I, Period II & Period Proficiency for Period I, Period II & Period III for the 2005-2006 Program Year:III for the 2005-2006 Program Year:

Four Year Old ChildrenFour Year Old Children

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Perc

enta

ges

SocialEmotional

Development

Approaches toLearning

LanguageDevelopment

Literacy Math Science Creative Arts Physical Health&

Development

Domains

Period 1 Period 2 Period 3

1313

Data-driven quality Data-driven quality improvementimprovement

Based upon child outcomes assessment data, CVHS has focusedBased upon child outcomes assessment data, CVHS has focusedenhancements in the following program areas:enhancements in the following program areas:

Additional staff trainingAdditional staff training: around speech and language development, early: around speech and language development, earlyliteracy, and early math and numeracy skills for preschool children.literacy, and early math and numeracy skills for preschool children.

Curriculum modificationsCurriculum modifications: particularly in the areas of early math activities: particularly in the areas of early math activitiesand experiences, as well as science and exploration activities andand experiences, as well as science and exploration activities andexperiences.experiences.

Collaborative partnershipsCollaborative partnerships: CVHS is now working closely with ECHO Lake: CVHS is now working closely with ECHO LakeAquarium and Science Center in Burlington around staff training inAquarium and Science Center in Burlington around staff training inscience-based activities for preschool children, and in sponsoring fieldscience-based activities for preschool children, and in sponsoring fieldtrips for Head Start children to visit the ECHO Center. trips for Head Start children to visit the ECHO Center.

1414

Champlain Valley Head StartChamplain Valley Head Start