Wisconsin Departments of Health and Family Services (DHFS) And Public Instruction (DPI) OSEP Child Outcomes

Wisconsin: A Tale of Two State Departments Department of Health Services (DHS) Part C County based services for 5,500 infants, toddlers and families with IFSPs 72 counties Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Part B Locally controlled school districts/LEAs serve 15,000 preschoolers with IEPs 440 school districts/LEAs

System Development

Wisconsin’s “Birth to 6” Child Outcome System Builds on existing practices Emphasizes on-going assessment Uses a team process to share information Emphasizes the same child outcome areas across the age range Uses the same child outcome reporting system (COSF) Counties and Districts (individual children) State (state summary)

Wisconsin’s “Birth to 6” Child Outcome System continued – Began gathering data with a small sample approach 16 counties and districts Part B – Sampling with districts assigned year to begin sample cohort (approx 440 districts), reporting on all initial children with initial IEPs Part C – Census Strategy: All counties report all children with IFSPs beginning July 2007 (72 counties) Report data on separate databases Counties and Districts (individual children) State (state summary)

Supports Statewide Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners Regional Supports Birth to 3 RESource Early Childhood Special Education Program Support/Leadership Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards approved trainers Community Collaboration Coaches

Wisconsin Timeline of Key Activities 2005 February – Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Training of Trainers with emphasis on on- going assessment within all early education programs October – stakeholders meet preparing to meet SPP requirements (help from ECO/NECTAC) November – Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners (WECCP) begin development Wisconsin’s Assessment Guiding Principles December – presentation to stakeholders by McLean, ECO and NECTAC 2006 April – Child Outcomes Pilots Video Conference May– Assessment Conference October – Child Outcomes Video Conference 2007 April – Child Outcomes Training of Trainers Spring – Winter – Regional Assessment “Mini-Grants” through SIG supported regional B-6 assessment trainings Spring to Present – Child Outcomes T/TA by Part B & C regional support staff Spring to Present – Child Outcomes resources on July State webcast on new Part B database. Future Plans…system evaluation

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Focus on Ongoing Assessment

Assessment Principles for Wisconsin 1.Involve families and primary care givers 2.Use reliable and valid methods 3.Use developmental expectations that are culturally and linguistically appropriate 4.Ongoing assessment with multiple sources of information 5. Add value through assessment 6.Develop consistent local accountability measures 7.Provide continuous staff development 8.Ensure high quality services and processes for all children

Wisconsin’s Children Moving Forward Child Outcomes Training Modules 1.OSEP Child Outcomes Background Information 2.Understanding the OSEP Child Outcomes 3.On-going Child Assessment 4.Completing the ECO Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) 5.Reporting OSEP Child Outcomes 6.OSEP Child Outcomes Team Process

Sample Slides from Wisconsin’s Children Moving Forward Module 3: Ongoing Assessment

“The best way to understand the development of children is to observe their behavior in natural settings while they are interacting with familiar adults over prolonged periods of time” --Uri Bronfenbrenner

Assessment is… “Assessment is a generic term that refers to the process of gathering information for decision-making.” (Mary McLean, 2004)

What is assessment? “Early childhood assessment is a flexible, collaborative decision-making process in which teams of parents and professionals repeatedly revise their judgments and reach consensus about the changing developmental, educational, medical and mental health services needs of young children and their families.” (Bagnato and Neisworth, 1991) Quoted in DEC Recommended Practices, 2005 Handout 3.1

Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards: Provide guidance for selecting/determining appropriate curriculum and assessment Promote the use of the “Teaching Cycle” which includes initial assessment, planning, implementation and ongoing assessment Are aligned with the three OSEP Child Outcomes http// Handout 3.4

The Teaching Cycle ? Ongoing Assessment Gathering information to determine the current developmental level of the child Implementation Providing meaningful, experiential activities that support individual and group goals guided by supportive interactions and relationships Planning & Curriculum Goals Deciding what should be done to promote development and what we want children to learn Handout 3.5

What are Wisconsin’s tools? AEPS for Infants and Children Battelle II Brigance (IED-II) Carolina Curriculum for Infants/Toddlers & Preschoolers Creative Curriculum Developmental Assessment for Infants/Toddlers & 3-5’s DAYC Early LAP & LAP-3 HELP B-3 & Preschoolers High Scope Infant/Toddler and Preschool IGDI: 0-3 New Portage Guide Birth to Six The Ounce Scale Work Sampling System Preschool 3-4 Handout 3.6

Key Points About Assessment Tools & Ongoing Assessment It is highly recommended that practitioners select a tool from the recommended list The child’s developmental information from a recommended tool is one of the data sources used on the COSF Training and support is provided in selection of a tool and how to develop an ongoing assessment system

Example Trainings through SIG Mini-Grants Creative Curriculum Assessment New Portage Guide Work Sampling “How To Do Ongoing Assessment” - Gaye Gronlund “Considerations for Talking With Parents & Other Caregivers in About Child Outcomes” Routine’s Based Interview – Robin McWilliam “Portfolio’s Plus”

Next Steps

Where Are We Going Next? Continue a statewide system approach to ongoing assessment through Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards trainings and statewide videoconference Continue individualized training and technical assistance to districts and counties Focus on evaluation of our state’s child outcomes system

What Are Our Questions? What are the essentials of a state system? How do we keep a statewide “Birth to 6” perspective? What are the assurances that all aspects are being implemented with fidelity? How do we ensure that our requirements have utility and build value? How do we ensure that all staff are trained? How do connect with other systems?

Thank You! State Part C/Birth to Three Coordinator Carol Noddings Eichinger Birth to Three Program and Policy Specialist Lori Witteman State Part B/619 Coordinator Mary Peters Statewide Child Outcomes Coordinator Ruth Chvojicek