What is it about the education field that makes acronyms so appealing? We sprinkle our conversations, our writing, our planning, and our research with a heaping spoonful of DAP, ECE, CDA, OCDEL, CQI, and more. Keeping the letters, nicknames, and acronyms straight is a challenge, and that challenge can get in the way of seeing...Read More

The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Team is available to support you in the Internal Assessment Process (IAP) by completing an on-site assessment in your program. In addition to the Environment Rating Scales® (ERS) and Classroom Observation Scoring System® (CLASS®) this opportunity is available for all Program Observation Instruments (POIs) listed in the Keystone STARS Standards.Read More

Natalie Grebe A key component of a program’s sustained quality that may not receive consistent attention is the director’s observations of classrooms. It is best practice for directors to observe classrooms and review their findings with teachers. Most directors will say the biggest reason for not being able to do this as well as they...Read More

Stefanie Camoni There are a variety of program observation instruments available to Pennsylvania programs and three that are specific to school-age classrooms. Most are familiar with the SACERS-U® and CLASS K-3® but another instrument, the School-Age Program Quality Assessment® (SPQA) has been added to the list.Read More