CLASS Overview Partner Meeting March 24, 2010

CLASS is the: CLassroom Assessment Scoring System

Why CLASS is being used? The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 requires that the Office of Head Start (OHS) include in the monitoring reviews of Head Start agencies a valid and reliable research-based observational instrument that assesses classroom quality, including the assessment of multiple dimensions of teacher-child interactions that are linked to positive child outcomes and later achievement.

Domains The CLASS assesses interactions between children and teachers in three broad domains of classroom quality including: Emotional Support Classroom Organization Instructional Support

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 3A Does the program support social and emotional development by encouraging trust-building? (a)(3)(i)(A) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Positive Climate to answer this compliance question FY 2010 OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING PROTOCOL, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 3B Does the program support social and emotional development by fostering independence? (a)(3)(i)(B), (a)(1)(v) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Regard for Student Perspective to answer this compliance question

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 3C Does the program support social and emotional development that enhances each child's strengths by encouraging self- control through setting clear, consistent limits and having realistic expectations? (a)(3)(i)(C) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Behavior Management to answer this compliance question FY 2010 OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING PROTOCOL, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 3H Does the program support social and emotional development by planning for routines and transitions so they occur in a timely, predictable, and unrushed manner according to each child's needs? (a)(3)(ii), (c)(5) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Productivity to answer this compliance question FY 2010 OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING PROTOCOL, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 3I APPLIES ONLY TO: Programs serving preschool-age children Is each child provided opportunities for success to help develop feelings of competence, self-esteem, and positive attitudes toward learning? (c)(1)(vi) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Regard for Student Perspective to answer this compliance question FY 2010 OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING PROTOCOL, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 4A Does the program provide for development of each child's cognitive and language skills by supporting his or her learning with various strategies, including experimentation, inquiry, observation, play, and exploration? (a)(4)(i) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Concept Development to answer this compliance question FY 2010 OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING PROTOCOL, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Education and Early Childhood Development Services Question 4C Does the program promote interaction and language use among children and between children and adults? (a)(4)(iii) Observation: CLASS Observation  For preschool center-based classrooms, use the CLASS Observation notes related to Language Modeling to answer this compliance question FY 2010 OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING PROTOCOL, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Questions??? For the complete FY 2010 Monitoring Protocol go to: eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov For more information on CLASS go to: