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Assessment Choices and School Readiness Plans
School Readiness Assessment
As a part of an aligned system of public education, the school readiness assessment was recognized by the General Assembly as a critical element of aligned assessments continuing from preschool to elementary (§22-7-1002). The State Board of Education has approved four assessment tools to be used in assessing kindergarten school readiness and informing individual readiness plans (§22-7-1014). Each tool assesses physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional development, language and comprehension development, cognition and general knowledge, including literacy and mathematics (§22-7-1004). In March of 2020, the State Board of Education approved an updated reporting format to include areas of readiness within each of these domains of learning and development.
Learn more on the history of school readiness assessments
The authors of each assessment tool have created a variety of specific guidance and support for teachers for the upcoming year. This guidance supplements the CDE 20-21 School Year Toolkit and is categorized using Colorado’s levels of public health and safety orders: Level 1 Stay-at-Home; Level 2 Safer-at-Home; Level 3 Protect Our Neighbors.
Through conversations with each of the authors, researchers, and with other states, several clear, overarching themes have emerged to guide assessment. These are outlined in the general assessment guidance.
Desired Results Developmental Profile for Kindergarten
Guidance for Teachers
Guidance to Provide Families
Levels 1, 2, and 3: DRDP-K Parent Information
Privacy
Not applicable
Webinars and TA
For a list of upcoming webinars and online modules provided by West Ed, visit the DRDP website
District Example
St. Vrain Valley example planning protocol for focus groups
High Scope COR for Kindergarten
Guidance for Teachers
Levels 1, 2, and 3:
Teacher Assessment Support for KEA
Levels 1, 2, and 3:
Privacy
Levels 1, 2 and 3: Please visit the HighScope website for privacy and security updates
Webinars and TA
- Collaboration for K Special Edition with High Scope COR-K: September 24th at 3:30. For more information, visit the School Readiness Training and Meetings webpage.
District Example
Coming Soon
North Carolina Kindergarten Entry Assessment
Guidance to Provide Families
Levels 1 and 2:
Providing Support for Families
Privacy
Not applicable
Webinars and TA
District Example
Coming Soon
Teaching Strategies GOLD®
Webinars and TA
- Collaboration for K Special Edition with Teaching Strategies GOLD®: September 17th at 3:30. For more information, visit the School Readiness Training and Meetings webpage.
- Teaching Strategies Recorded Webinar: Using GOLD® for Kindergarten Entry Assessment in the Time of COVID-19.
District Example
Desired Results Developmental Profile for Kindergarten (DRDP-K)
- Visit the Desired Results Developmental Profile for Kindergarten website for more information about the research and implementation of this tool.
- CDE - DRDP-K Information Sheet [PDF]
HighScope COR for Kindergarten
- Visit the HighScope COR for Kindergarten website for more information about the research and implementation of this tool.
- CDE - COR for K Information Sheet [PDF]
North Carolina Kindergarten Entry Assessment
- North Carolina Construct Progressions and Situations Book
- Visit the North Carolina KEA website for more information about the research and implementation of this tool.
Teaching Strategies GOLD®
- Visit the Teaching Strategies GOLD® website for more information about the research and implementation of this tool.
- CDE - GOLD Information Sheet
The school readiness assessment is administered to each student enrolled in a publicly funded kindergarten within the first sixty days of the school year and assesses each child’s physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional development, language and comprehension development, and cognition and general knowledge, including literacy and mathematics (§22-7-1014). Districts determine the initial 60-day assessment window in accordance with their individual student start dates. School readiness assessments are not to be used to deny a student admission or progression to Kindergarten or first grade (§22-7-1004 2(a).
Flexibility in Implementation
The following flexibilities are provided (§22-7-1004 2(a)):
- If a reading assessment pursuant to §22-7-1205 (1)(a.5)) is administered within the first sixty days of the school year, the district is not required to administer the literacy component of the school readiness assessment.
- Districts may choose to assess additional areas and/or items of learning and development.
- Districts may choose to continue to monitor a student's progress toward demonstrating school readiness by administering an approved school readiness assessment multiple times over the course of the school year.
Data Privacy and Security
In December 2015, the Colorado State Board of Education approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Teaching Strategies regarding the use of the GOLD® assessment for kindergarten school readiness. As part of the MOU, additional privacy safeguards when implementing the assessment tool are in place to ensure even greater levels of student data privacy.
As the new school year approaches, districts are reminded to obtain explicit, individual written parental/guardian consent if planning to use photos and videos in Teaching Strategies GOLD® in kindergarten. Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, opt-in to the documentation functionality will expand to allow for child-level opt-in to be made in one of the following ways: By district, by school, by teacher, by classroom, or by an individual student.
The default setting for pictures and videos will be set to off and only administrators will be allowed to change the opt-in status to on. A student’s opt-in status is tracked by individual student, even if the opt-in is made using one of the bulk methods described above. Each district may use locally determined systems to house and track parental or guardian permission when using one of the bulk methods described above.
CDE Data Privacy and Security Policies webpage is a resource for early childhood assessment.
Individual school readiness plans are required for every publicly funded kindergartner (§22-7-1014).
These plans are:
- Based on standards
- Used to monitor progress toward school readiness
- Informed by a State Board of Education approved school readiness assessment tool
Additionally, if a student is identified as having a significant reading deficiency, the student's READ plan is to be created as a component of the student's individualized readiness plan (§22-7-1014(1)(a)). For more information, please view the recorded 2020 Kindergarten School Readiness and READ Plans Webinar and PowerPoint Slides.
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