Early Learning Outcomes Reporting
Assessing children's progress in early childhood programs. Assessment is a critical piece in high-quality standards-aligned programs. Parents, teachers and caregivers are the most qualified to assess young children because they observe children in authentic environments, and are most familiar with each child’s development and learning expectations. Teachers observe children through all activities in the day that yield the necessary information to determine skill levels. They collect information through many different sources of evidence, such as regular family engagement, observations throughout a child’s daily routines, collection of children’s artwork or writing samples, and by talking with the child or other adults about the child's accomplishments. This information is used to make good decisions about how to support children’s learning and development.
Child outcome data should not be used to determine placement in a program, class or special education, or to deny or exclude access to eligible services.
Reporting child outcomes. Pennsylvania is transforming how child outcomes are reported through the Early Learning Network (ELN). The new strategy will allow early childhood providers to choose from a list of approved child assessment tools. Within these tools, providers will be able to create their own classrooms, enter staff and children, and generate teacher and parent reports by fully utilizing the assessment company’s online products. ELN will no longer limit a provider’s ability to use an online assessment tool. Child outcomes reported to the state will consist of only those outcomes that align to specific PA Early Learning Standards.
information for early learning providers
- Announcements
- Overview of Outcomes Reporting
Fact sheets on approved assessment tools for 2013 - 2014
Infant-toddler (0-3 years)
Pre-kindergarten (3-5 years)
Who participates?
- Administrators and Practitioners in:
- STAR 3 and 4 child care centers and groups
- State-Funded Head Start (HSSAP)
- PA Pre-K Counts
- Best Practice for Assessments
What are the recommended reporting requirements?
- Assessments should be an on-going process. Providers should use the assessments companies suggested timeline for reporting within their vendor system.
- Full or Partial Assessment information is sent to OCDEL's Master Repository on a nightly basis. Updates are added as they are entered.
Pre-Kindergarten (37 mos-60 mos)
PA Pre-K Counts and HSSAP - assessment data should be entered by the following dates:
STAR providers - assessment data should be entered by the following dates:
Infant-Toddler (birth-36 mos)
STAR Providers (as recommend by the selected assessment tool)
- 12 months
- 24 months
- 36 months
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Training-
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Early Learning Outcomes Reporting Webinar Follow Up: “Just the Facts” call series
In response to questions from the June 20 webinar, OCDEL is scheduling a series of conference calls to address four key areas of implementation of the Early Learning Outcomes Reporting Strategy in FY 12-13. The calls will answer questions submitted during the webinar, however; because of large number of expected participants, participant lines will not be open to pose new questions during the call.
Participants must register for each call individually. To register
• Go to the PA Keys website at www.pakeys.org and log in to the intranet by clicking on the “login” button in the top right corner of the page. You can also receive instructions if you have forgotten your password or need to create a new account;
• Select “calendar” from the left menu;
• Enter the date of the call you are interested in registering for based on the topic lists and dates below in the search field.
Notes from each call with be posted on the PA Key website on the Outcomes Reporting page.
These calls are for information only and do not count towards DPW or other professional development hours.
1. Outcomes Basics July 9 1-2 pm
Download FAQs from July 9 call
This session will address those questions received during 6/20 webinar specific to child outcomes. OCDEL will review basic information and the early learning outcomes reporting strategy. This will be a refresher for those who participated in prior Early Learning Outcomes Reporting webinars.
2. Assessments and Reporting Outcomes July 16 1-2 pm
Download FAQs from July 16 call
This session will address those questions received during 6/20 webinar specific to completing assessments and meeting outcome reporting requirements. OCDEL will review timelines, guidance for completing assessments, and the distinction between assessment and outcomes.
3. PELICAN - Outcome ID and Reports July 23 1-2 pm
Download FAQs from July 23 call
This session will address those questions specific to the new Outcome ID and updated reports received during the 6/20 webinar. OCDEL will review the importance of the Outcome ID, where to find the Outcome ID in PELICAN and the changes to the Data Monitoring Report.
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4. PELICAN - Classroom Structure July 30 1-2 pm
Download FAQs from July 30 call
This session will address those questions received during 6/20 webinar specific to classroom structure changes. OCDEL will review physical rooms, classroom sessions and enrollments, including various scenarios on creating classroom structures.
- Early Learning Outcomes Reporting Webinar
held on June 20, 2012, 9:00 - 11:00 am
This session is designed to provide Early Learning Network and PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, and Keystone STARS 3 and 4 groups and centers with information about the June 24th PELICAN system release which includes the new early learning outcomes reporting functionality, the new Child Outcomes report, and changes to classroom structure.
Download slide deck
FAQs from Webinar
INFORMATION FOR ASSESSMENT VENDORS
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) within the Pennsylvania Departments of Public Welfare and Education (Department) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to seek input from the publishers of evidence-based authentic assessments that are interested in submitting authentic assessment tools for review and possible use by child-care providers in certain OCDEL-funded programs. Our hope is that the strategies and solutions identified in the responses will assist the Department and the Commonwealth in making informed decisions on the best approach.
In 2012, the Commonwealth issued a Request for Information for interested vendors for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, which were due September 27, 2012. Although the deadline for 2013-2014 has passed, vendors may review the RFI for information only.
- Click here to access the RFI for the 2014-2015 fiscal year - deadline September 27, 2013
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