Early Literacy Assessment Tool (ELAT)

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Important Update

Information to come about the 2023-2024 ELAT application.

For updates related to ELAT, sign up for the READ Act Communication listserv here and The Scoop here.

History and Purpose

The 2012 School Finance Act required the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to select a contractor to supply 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 of the program was to support state purchase of software that would provide individualized assessments with immediate results, store and analyze those results, and recommend activities based on those results.

In the spring of 2018, through a new competitive process, the award was made to both Amplify and Istation for the approved interim assessments on both platforms. The contract duration is for five years, through June 2023. This is a non-competitive project.

The Early Literacy Assessment Tool is designed to assist teachers in meeting the assessment requirements of the READ Act. The online tool will allow teachers to obtain real time assessment of the reading skill levels of students enrolled in kindergarten, first, second, and/or third grades. Based on the assessment results, the online tool will generate intervention plans and materials to support students.

teacher supervises young students taking an assessment

Benefits of ELAT

By participating in the Early Literacy Assessment Tool Project, applicants first select one of the two vendors and then are supplied with the online tools to support the assessment. Participants will select:

Amplify for Acadience Reading (formerly named DIBELS Next) and IDEL, approved interim assessments for the READ Act, and DIBELS Deep PA/WRD diagnostic reading assessment, an approved diagnostic measure.
Istation for ISIP Early Reading and ISIP Lectura Temprana, approved interim assessments for the READ Act.

Both online platforms will:

Provide individualized assessments with immediate results;
Store and analyze assessment results, recommend activities that are aligned with the assessment results, and assist in tracking student performance and identifying strategies to improve student performance;
Provide student grouping recommendations based on the assessment scores and provide proposed lesson plans on a short-term cycle; and
Assist in generating and populating individualized plans to improve students’ reading skills.

All approved applicants will receive software licenses to use the assessment that they select. The tool will store and analyze the results and recommend school and home activities based on those results. Hardware is not included. Applicants will be responsible for providing their own hardware.

A list of hardware devices that support the software is available for each vendor:

Eligible Applicants

All local education providers (LEPs) are eligible to apply. For purposes of the ELAT application, "local education provider" means:

a school district;
a charter school authorized through a district or the Charter School Institute (CSI);
a public school within a district applying as a standalone applicant;
or a public school operated by a board of cooperative services (BOCES).

The applicant must enroll students in kindergarten, first, second, and/or third grades. Applications may be submitted for a single school or multiple schools within a district or CSI. CDE accepts applications from both new and renewal applicants.

LEPs Will Receive the Following Items Upon Application Approval

Amplify Users

Each school will receive licenses for:

Acadience Reading, formerly named DIBELS Next (READ approved interim assessment)
Indicadores Dinámicos del Éxito en la Lectura (IDEL) (READ approved interim assessment)

Acadience Reading Diagnostic, formerly named DIBELS Deep (READ approved diagnostic assessment)

The district contacts listed will receive a welcome email from Amplify and step by step instructions on getting started.

Each school will receive one kit per grade level for:

Acadience Reading Kits
IDEL Kits (if requested by the district)
DIBELS Deep PA/WRD Kits

Learn more about Amplify

Istation Users

Each school will receive licenses for:

Istation’s Indicators of Progress (ISIP) Reading online assessment (READ approved interim assessment)
ISIP Español online reading assessment (READ approved interim assessment)
ISIP Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment in English and Spanish
ISIP Rapid Automized Naming (RAN) assessment in English & Spanish

The district contacts listed will receive a welcome email from Istation and step-by-step instructions on getting started.

Once the data contact has worked with Istation to create rosters of users, principals and teachers will receive emails with links to get started.

Learn more about Istation

Vendor Resources and Information

View Amplify Resources

View Istation Resources

ELAT News

2022-2023 ELAT Project

The 2022-2023 ELAT Project application is closed. Applications were due Monday, January 31, 2022. CDE hosted an application information webinar on Wednesday, November 17, 2021: Slides and the recording are available.

Application Resources

Request for Applications (including link to application)
Amplify Assurances and Release of Information (PDF)
Amplify Assurances and Release of Information (Word)
Istation Assurances and Release of Information (PDF)
Istation Assurances and Release of Information (Word)
School Information Template (for multi-school applicants)

ELAT Contact Information

CDE Support Staff

Colorado Department of Education Project Manager

Laura Stelling
CDE READ Act Grants Project Manager
303-866-6971
stelling_l@cde.state.co.us

Amplify Support Staff

Carolyn Mulloy
Associate Director, Customer Success
cmulloy@amplify.com

Denver Miller
Customer Support Specialist, Customer Success
dmiller@amplify.com

Kim Ballantyne
PD Partnerships and Design
kballantyne@amplify.com

Istation Support Staff

Michael Benson
Project Manager, Strategic Professional Development Specialist
972-715-3845
mbenson@istation.com

Vickie Whitfield
Project Manager, Vice President of Education Expertise
972-643-3448
vwhitfield@istation.com

Matthew Terry
Customer Strategy Consultant
303-963-6955
mterry@istation.com

Eric Longoria
Regional Account Executive (Outside Team)
303-963-6955
elongoria@istation.com

Jodi Swindle
Regional Account Executive (Inside Team)
214-292-4949
jswindle@istation.com

Lauren Lettenmaier
Regional Account Executive (Inside Team)
866-883-7323 ext. 3913
llettermaier@istation.com

ELAT Email List

If you would like to be added to the email list for ELAT updates or if you have questions in general, please email Laura Stelling.

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