Educational Service Providers - Provider Detail
The information provided regarding Educational Service Providers is provided for information only. The Colorado Department of Education does not endorse, represent or warrant the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, content, services or other materials provided by these educational service providers. Any reliance upon any information, content, materials, products, services or vendors included on or found through this listing shall be at the user's sole risk.
Provider
CTB/McGraw-Hill
Contact Information
Primary Paula Brown
PO Box 133
Bailey, CO 80421Phone: (303) 816-4538
Email: paula_e_brown@ctb.com
General Information
Website: www.ctb.com; choose the acuity or yearly progresspro logo for information about each product. Screenshots / Demo: www.ctb.com; choose acuity; choose "view acuity tour;" choose yearly progresspro; choose "product tours." Effectiveness Data: www.ctb.com; choose acuity; choose "white papers" under acuity resources; choose yearly progresspro; choose "articles"; also, choose "download research synopsis”. Type of Organization: For Profit Company Organization is best described as: For-Profit Age of Firm / Number of Years in Operation: 85 years Level(s) services may be provided: - Elementary
- Middle
- High School
- District
Provides performance guarantees in contract: NO Educational Services Provided Assessment Name of Schools/ Districts that this organization has served in Colorado:
Some of the Colorado districts that currently use Acuity and/or Yearly ProgressPro include:
Thompson School District--Diane Lauer, diane.lauer@thompsonschools.org
Garfield School District--Julie Knowles, jknowles@garfieldre2.org
Hope Online Learning--Janet Filbin, janet.filbin@HopeOnline.org
Denver Public Schools--Kacy Libersat, Kacy_Libersat@dpsk12.org
Jefferson County School District-Eric Everding, eeverdin@jeffco.k12.co.us
Weld County RE-3J, Keenesburg-Roxie Bracken, roxie-bracken@rebel-net.tec.co.us
Weld County RE-4, Windsor-Amy Heinsma, amy.heinsma@weldre4.k12.co.usRecent References:
Jefferson County School District--Eric Everding--eeverdin@jeffco.k12.co.us
Thompson School District--Diane Lauer--diane.lauer@thompsonschools.org
Hope Online Learning--Janet Filbin--janet.filbin@HopeOnline.org
Garfield School District--Julie Knowles, jknowles@garfieldre2.orgName of Schools/ Districts that this organization has served in other states:
Mesa School District, Mesa Arizona--Joe O'Reilly, JOReilly@mpsaz.org
Park Hill School District, Kansas City, Missouri--Phillip Adam, adamp@parkhill.k12.mo.us
Granite School District, Salt Lake City, Utah-Darryl Thomas, dwthomas@graniteschools.orgQualifications of this Organization (licensure, trademark, etc.):
Established in 1926, to "help the teacher help the child," today CTB/McGraw-Hill ranks among education's leading assessment partners. With a reputation for delivering the highest quality psychometric research, accuracy, and client service, CTB/McGraw-Hill serves the global education community with a comprehensive range of assessment programs and services. Our clients include public, private, and religious educational institutions in all 50 United States and in 49 countries around the world.
Education's assessment and instructional leaders choose CTB for a spectrum of solutions including early learner, adult basic skills, and English language proficiency assessments.
Additionally, CTB provides powerful interim and formative, summative, norm-referenced, performance-based, and observational assessments delivered in both online and traditional formats.
Our scope of services and capabilities includes rigorous standards alignments for all of our assessments and we have developed authentically aligned assessments to support the new Common Core State Standards, enabling states and districts to migrate to these new standards effectively. At the same time, we continue to ensure that all of our assessment solutions maintain alignments to existing accountability requirements under state and federal mandates.
All CTB programs and services are distinguished by innovative delivery modalities encompassing online and other technology based approaches, thorough and timely reporting, the profession's most accurate and fast scoring processes, and
comprehensive data management services.
CTB's leadership is enhanced by our highly specialized role with McGraw-Hill Education; a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies. We benefit from our corporate heritage and commitment to education and we take pride in our ability to contribute proven assessment insight and expertise to our instructional colleagues. McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment, and reference solutions that empower professionals and student of all ages.Qualifications of Instructors/ Staff that Provide Services:
With 20 years of experience in education, the local Colorado Assessment Solutions Consultant for CTB/McGraw-Hill provides services/support throughout the duration of the online assessment program implemented by the school/district. The consultant offers expertise in CTB's InFormative assessment systems and supports districts in linking results to instruction. Local forums that allow Acuity/YPP users to share best practices connecting online assessments to response to intervention, professional learning communities, etc. are facilitated.
In addition, our professional development experts provide services/support to districts that choose to implement Acuity and/or Yearly ProgressPro. Our PD program is designed for two audiences. The first includes district/school teams who wish to master the skills and knowledge necessary to train others to use Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro; the second includes classroom teachers who learn the skills necessary to administer tests and use the results to inform their own classroom instruction.
CTB provides on-site training professionals who have expertise in both assessment and research-based practice. They deliver interactive courses that teach educators how to use Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro. Grounded in the methodology that is most effective for adult learners,
these professionals employ a wide variety of experiences working with the adult population. By providing the opportunity for continuous feedback, CTB specialists confirm that training content is applicable to the subject matter taught and grade levels assessed. Participants are trained by CTB in multiple sessions that are coordinated with the Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro implementation timeline for schools/districts in Colorado.
Customization of Professional Development may also be provided by CTB's experts. These options can be used to precisely suit needs, whether representing an individual school, district or state board of education. Some of these outcomes include data-driven decision making; school improvement; differentiated lesson planning; use of technology to monitor learning and build 21st century skills; and sustainability.
Finally, through CTB's expertise in research and development work, as well as through our collaborative research relationships with testing experts throughout the world, we have contributed many innovations to the field of testing. Select examples include, 1) the first operational implementation of item response theory methods, 2) the detection of bias in test items, and 3) the widely used Bookmark Standard Setting Procedure.Cost:
Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro pricing is based on an annual per student subscription. A set-up fee is applied in the initial implementation and professional development services are also offered. For specific pricing details, contact CTB/McGraw-Hill's local assessment consultant at 303-816-4538.
Explanation of how we are able to provide differentiated services to meet the individual needs of schools and districts.
CTB/McGraw-Hill has experience partnering with very small and extremely large school districts across the country to implement Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro. These implementations have occurred in schools of 25 students to districts of 800,000 students. We provide personal service through Account Management and the local consultant. CTB personnel are experienced in recognizing the needs that are typical of large as well as small customers. Whether it is one-on-one communication that is needed between CTB and an individual school, or district level communication with a team of CTB experts from research, publishing, and/or other functional areas, CTB has the expertise to recognize and meet those needs.
How will we evaluate our services and support to schools and districts and its effectiveness in school/ district/ student achievement?
CTB's research department evaluates its InFormative assessment systems,
Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro. These findings are published in white papers that can be found on the CTB website. The research department also publishes manuals that confirm the technical quality of its products.
CTB's marketing department publishes Case Studies that highlight the success that districts across the country have experienced when using Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro. District details in these documents may include information about an increase in state test scores; more informed educator involvement in data-driven decision-making; and/or targeted use of predicted performance data to drive instruction.
Finally, CTB gathers information from a Customer Advisory Board and local user's groups to understand the effectiveness of Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro. This feedback is utilized to determine future enhancements and additional features of both assessment systems.Sample of services offered for a school or district:
Under 500 Students:
CTB offers efficient and effective support and services to districts/schools of any size with the implementation of Acuity and/or Yearly ProgressPro. However, we recognize the diverse needs of small and large districts and have worked to make sure that we take those needs into account when designing our products and the implementation process. For example, small districts may be eligible to participate in an ASP technology model that connects them directly to a remote CTB server rather than installing an appliance on their own district server. In addition, our PD department recognizes that the needs of small districts may differ from those of districts with a large student population. Therefore, we have developed a train-the-trainer model that may be most effectively used in large districts, while a direct teacher training may be most useful in smaller districts. Finally, the use of student response devices (clickers) during Acuity test administrations affords districts with a large student population the opportunity to alleviate stress on school computer labs. Instead of all students taking tests in the lab, clickers facilitate test-taking in individual classrooms and results are available to educators in a timely manner.
500-1000 Students:
CTB offers efficient and effective support and services to districts/schools of any size with the implementation of Acuity and/or Yearly ProgressPro. However, we recognize the diverse needs of small and large districts and have worked to make sure that we take those needs into account when designing our products and the implementation process. For example, small districts may be eligible to participate in an ASP technology model that connects them directly to a remote CTB server rather than installing an appliance on their own district server. In addition, our PD department recognizes that the needs of small districts may differ from those of districts with a large student population. Therefore, we have developed a train-the-trainer model that may be most effectively used in large districts, while a direct teacher training may be most useful in smaller districts. Finally, the use of student response devices (clickers) during Acuity test administrations affords districts with a large student population the opportunity to alleviate stress on school computer labs. Instead of all students taking tests in the lab, clickers facilitate test-taking in individual classrooms and results are available to educators in a timely manner.
1000+ Students:
CTB offers efficient and effective support and services to districts/schools of any size with the implementation of Acuity and/or Yearly ProgressPro. However, we recognize the diverse needs of small and large districts and have worked to make sure that we take those needs into account when designing our products and the implementation process. For example, small districts may be eligible to participate in an ASP technology model that connects them directly to a remote CTB server rather than installing an appliance on their own district server. In addition, our PD department recognizes that the needs of small districts may differ from those of districts with a large student population. Therefore, we have developed a train-the-trainer model that may be most effectively used in large districts, while a direct teacher training may be most useful in smaller districts. Finally, the use of student response devices (clickers) during Acuity test administrations affords districts with a large student population the opportunity to alleviate stress on school computer labs. Instead of all students taking tests in the lab, clickers facilitate test-taking in individual classrooms and results are available to educators in a timely manner.