CDE Update - Strategic Priorities

New Assessments Available in the CDE Resource Bank

The CDE Resource Bank provides districts with optional high quality assessments aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards and could potentially be used as part of educator evaluations. The initial launch included assessments reviewed by Cohort I of the Colorado Content Collaboratives in the subject areas of music, dance, drama and theatre arts, visual arts, social studies and reading, writing & communicating. More assessments have been added to the CDE Resource Bank from Cohort II in the subjects of mathematics, physical education, science and world languages. The bank will continue to be updated with more assessments (e.g. comprehensive health and career and technical education) and instructional supports. Districts are encouraged to review the assessments available in the CDE Resource Bank for use in their classrooms and as part of the multiple measures of performance data for teacher evaluations as they build systems aligned to S.B. 10-191. To access the resource bank, visit http://www.coloradoplc.org/assessment.

S.B. 10-191 Implementation Brief

CDE is using pilot experiences and feedback to inform strategies for S.B. 10-191 statewide implementation. An implementation brief will be released in The Scoop this month and will highlight key ideas and insights from a panel discussion held in January. Make sure to subscribe to The Scoop to receive the brief. To subscribe, send an email with the subject line, “Sign me up for The Scoop,” to CDE_Communications_Office@cde.state.co.us. 

By July 1, all districts must provide CDE an assurance that specifies if they are implementing the Colorado State Model Evaluation System or another evaluation system that meets or exceeds the state Quality Standards. To access a step-by-step guide for submitting assurances, download the assurance document and access the Colorado Tracker to submit the assurances, visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/EducatorEffectiveness/SB-Assurances.asp. 

Area Standards Workshops

The Standards and Instructional Support Office is providing a series of workshops in standards-based curriculum design. The workshops have been coordinated through BOCES in five areas across the state. Please contact one of the BOCES below for more information.

Dates include:

• March 8 - 9, hosted by NW BOCES
• May 17 - 18, hosted by Centennial BOCES
• June 3 - 4, hosted by San Juan BOCES
• June 14 - 15, hosted by NE BOCES

School Readiness

Webinars are available on the school readiness assessment and funding for Teaching Strategies GOLD licenses for kindergarten, and Teaching Strategies GOLD for Kindergarten: An Orientation for Colorado. Webinars and fact sheets can be found at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/early/. 

CDE is finalizing the Early Learning Challenge Fund work plan which provides funding for TS GOLD subscriptions. In March, further information on obtaining licenses for TS GOLD and training for kindergarten teachers will be announced in The Scoop.

The READ Act

READ Act Rules: Hearings on the READ Act rules were conducted at the January and February State Board of Education meetings. The state board will vote on the rules at its March meeting. Information on the READ Act and a link to the rules can be found at http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/ReadAct/index.asp. 

READ Act Training: From March to May, the department will provide trainings for teachers and instructional leaders focused on (1) components of the READ Act, (2) identifying a significant reading deficiency, (3) developing effective READ plans, and (4) the READ Automated Data Exchange (ADE) system collection. Information about the opportunity to participate in a state sponsored license for the DIBELS Next System will also be provided. All trainings will be conducted from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Locations and dates have been published in the Scoop and posted on the READ Act webpage: http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/ReadAct/index.asp. 

Early Literacy Assessment Licenses: The 2012 School Finance Act required CDE to issue a competitive request for proposals (RFP) for state purchase of an early literacy assessment tool that teachers may use to obtain real-time assessments of the reading skill levels of students in kindergarten through third grade. The intent is to support state purchase of software that provides individualized assessments with immediate results, stores and analyzes those results, and recommends activities based on those results. A contract was awarded to Wireless Generation for its DIBELS Next system and Burst diagnostic reading assessments. Funding covers the cost of the online software license and training. Hardware is not included. For a list of devices that support the software, go to: http://www.wirelessgeneration.com/devices. 

The department is negotiating the terms of the contract and more details will be available in the coming weeks. CDE anticipates districts will be able to apply for the software licenses in March, with the application window estimated to be open from late-March to late-May. To provide more information about this opportunity, the department will host a webinar in March and will provide updates during the regional READ Act spring training. Information on this opportunity will also be available at http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/ReadAct/assessmenttool.asp. 

• By April, optional school readiness plan templates and a READ plan template will be available for district use.

• Applications for DIBELS Next software licenses are due in May.

Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP)

Colorado is currently administering the TCAP. The grade 3 Reading and Lectura administration window is open through March 8. The window for all other grades and content areas runs throughout March and closes at the beginning of April. For questions, contact Jason Clymer at clymer_j@cde.state.co.us. 

Colorado Alternate Assessment (CoAlt)

Colorado is currently administering the CoAlt assessments. The testing window for these assessments closes on March 22. For questions about the CoAlt assessment, contact Mira Monroe at monroe_m@cde.state.co.us. 

Assessment Frameworks for New Summative and Alternate Assessments for Science and Social Studies

Districts provided feedback on the assessable standards, the proposed reporting categories and the percent distribution of each of the reporting categories for each grade and content area. Final assessment frameworks that include feedback from the field will be posted in early March. For more information about the summative assessment frameworks, contact Glen Sirakavit at sirakavit_g@cde.state.co.us. For more information about the alternate assessment frameworks, contact Mira Monroe at monroe_m@cde.state.co.us.  

Field Test Recruitment for the Science and Social Studies Alternate Assessments

The field test for the new science and social studies summative and alternate assessments is scheduled to begin on April 22. The opportunity for districts to participate in the 2013 spring field test for the new science and social studies summative assessments has been expanded. The sample of students from the spring field test will consist of students from grades 4, 5, 7 and 8. School districts not currently participating in the field test may select one elementary school and one middle school for participation. School districts currently participating in the field test with only an elementary school(s) identified for participation may add one middle school. School districts currently participating in the field test with only a middle school(s) selected for participation may add one elementary school. Additional information about how to register your schools for the field test is forthcoming.

PARCC

PARCC has released sample assessment items and tasks available online, providing educators, parents, and students an initial look at the types of items that will appear on next-generation assessments. To view them, visit http://www.parcconline.org/samples/item-task-prototypes.  PARCC has also issued guidance designed to inform schools and districts as they make annual instructional technology purchases. The guidelines include hardware and operating system specifications covering the vast majority of commercially available computers and tablets. To view the PARCC Technology Guidelines, visit http://www.parcconline.org/technology 

Online Assessment Readiness 

As Colorado begins its transition to computer-based assessments, it is important for districts to participate in the online readiness survey, the Technology Readiness Tool. Training for district technology coordinators began in November and districts have begun to provide information. Data collected from the tool about device to student ratios in Colorado schools will be used by CDE to inform the setting of future testing windows. It is important for districts to provide information as soon as possible so that their data is reflected when decisions are made for both the PARCC and the Colorado-developed assessments. To access the frequently asked questions document, visit: http://www.cde.state.co.us/assessment/documents/training/TRT_FAQ.pdf. 

The next step in preparing field test districts for online testing is the site readiness training. This training consists of verifying minimum system requirements, running a system check to validate bandwidth, proctor caching, and session management. Site readiness trainings will first be provided to field test districts and will be expanded to all other districts before the Spring 2014 assessment administration. Site readiness trainings were held in January for field test districts. For questions about online readiness trainings, contact the Assessment Unit’s Technology Specialist, Collin Bonner, at bonner_c@cde.state.co.us.

Educator Recruitment

Educator involvement in the development and review of state assessments is essential to ensuring that the content of items is appropriate for Colorado students and that items are not unfairly advantageous or disadvantageous to a particular group of students. The Assessment Unit is recruiting educators for assessment item reviews. Please distribute the information below to help CDE recruit reviewers. CDE is especially interested in candidates who represent minority racial/ethnic groups, as well as educators who work with students with special needs and English learners.

For development and review opportunities for the new science and social studies assessments, please direct interested educators to the following link: http://educator.force.com/CO

For development and review opportunities for the reading, writing and mathematics TCAP, please direct interested educators to the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TCAP13_Field_Review_Survey

For more information, contact Jason Clymer (TCAP) at clymer_j@cde.state.co.us, Glen Sirakavit (new summative science and social studies assessments) at sirakavit_g@cde.state.co.us, or Mira Monroe (new alternate science and social studies assessments) at monroe_m@cde.state.co.us. 

April 22

The field test for the new science and social studies summative and alternate assessments is scheduled to begin.

Training for the New Science and Social Studies Assessments

Through April: PearsonAccess trainings, trainings related to preparing district assessment coordinators, school assessment coordinators, and others involved in the assessment administration process, continues. PearsonAccess trainings are open to all districts, with invitations sent to DACs. Recordings will be available on the PearsonAccess website a few days after the last training event. For more information about PearsonAccess trainings, dates and locations and to register, visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/assessment/NewAssess-CoAltSSS.asp or contact Mira Monroe at monroe_m@cde.state.co.us. 

None at this time.

UIP Feedback 

CDE is reviewing more than 250 school and district UIPs submitted in January. District level plans have been prioritized, so that district level feedback will be released soon. School-level feedback will be released on a rolling basis as it becomes available. Once feedback becomes available superintendents and district accountability contacts will receive an email containing instructions for how to obtain feedback as well as directions for next steps in the improvement planning process, including resubmission of plans with required changes.

Districts that have required changes must re-submit revised plans to CDE through the online Tracker System by March 30 for a re-review. Districts should work with their schools that may have received feedback indicating required changes needed in their plans. Districts are also to ensure that the appropriate revisions are made to the school plans as schools work through continuous improvement planning cycles.

Consolidated Application Trainings

In response to a request from the Rural Education Council, regional trainings have been developed and are being hosted by CDE to present the changes to the 2013-2014 consolidated application process. To register, contact Clara Martinez, martinez_c@cde.state.co.us, 303-866-6777.

• March 6 - San Luis Valley, Alamosa
• March 8 – Southwest, Durango
• March 8 – Northeast BOCES, Haxtun
• March 11 - North Central, Greeley
• March 12 – Northwest, Frisco
• March 13 - Pikes Peak BOCES, Colorado Springs
• March 13 - Western Slope, Grand Junction
• March 15 - Metro Denver, Thornton

Turnaround Report

The School and District Performance Unit is pleased to present a report on turnarounds in Colorado, written by the Center for Education Policy Analysis at the Buechner Institute for Governance in the School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver and in partnership with the Center of Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington. Find it at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/turnaround/Download/SchoolTurnaroundReport.pdf

UIP Feedback Trainings

Trainings are available to districts and schools to incorporate CDE feedback into their plans. Participants in these trainings will be able to bring their own feedback to gain a better understanding of how the feedback can be used to help strengthen improvement plans. Sessions are offered in three different locations throughout the state: Pueblo (April 1), Glenwood Springs (April 3), and North Metro Denver (April 5). Registration is open at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012UIPScaffoldedReview.

UIPs for Public Posting

All district and school Unified Improvement Plans are required to be submitted to CDE each year by April 15 to post on SchoolView. All plans should be submitted through the online Tracker system from March 15 through April 15. Resources on how to submit UIPs will be available to UIP district tracker contacts in March. See http://www.cde.state.co.us/uip/Downloads/UnifiedImprovementPlanning/2012-13_Submission_Outline_Chart.pdf

• March 6: TELL Colorado Survey window closes.

• March 30: Districts with required changes must submit their revised UIPs to CDE for re-review (plans accepted by April 1).

• April 15: All district and school unified improvement plans due to CDE for posting to SchoolView.

• Summer: CDE publishes district and school UIPs on SchoolView.

Rebecca Holmes has been selected as the state’s new associate commissioner leading the Division of Innovation, Choice and Engagement. Holmes will direct the Department’s work on education innovation and oversee the Department’s role in exploring and fostering expanded learning opportunities to meet the growing need to customize education in ways that go beyond traditional settings and means.

The Office of Online & Blended Learning is accepting nominations for online teachers and guidance counselors to be recognized for going above and beyond to be a primary role in students’ academic success. Principals, directors and superintendents that oversee online programs and schools are eligible to nominate online practitioners. For more information, go to http://www.cde.state.co.us/onlinelearning/whatsnew.asp. Submissions are due Friday, March 8, at 4 p.m. If you have questions, please contact Renee Martinez at martinez_r@cde.state.co.us. 

For more information visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/choice/index.asp.

Watch for more information in next months Update.

None at this time.

Several areas of Pipeline have been piloted including the student, staff, Title I and 11th-grade alternate assessment. Participation by pilot districts has been fantastic and feedback has informed changes.

As file layouts are posted on the website, vendors such as Infinite Campus are beginning the necessary development on their side to ensure districts are able to submit data in the required formats by Sept. 1. Please continue to reach out to vendors to let them know that file layouts are on the website. 

Data Services is conducting trainings on Data Pipeline. To view the dates/locations, and to register, visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/rise/ADEReplacement-Trainings.asp. 

CDE will gather all the necessary requirements to implement the Teacher/Student Data Link into the Pipeline. If your district is interested in participating in the pilot, contact Lisa Bradley.

• March – Regional trainings on Data Pipeline continue

• April/May – Pilot student end of year, special education December count, special education discipline

• July – RITS, EDIS, and directory go live in Pipeline