Dear Early Learning Assessment Administrators and Data Managers,

We have many upcoming Early Learning Assessment (ELA) training opportunities for teachers, administrators, and data managers.

Teacher Training

We are having a high number of “no shows” for the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) teacher training sessions. The ELA trainings are for educators who will use the assessment in their classrooms. Please share this information with your teachers.

Teachers should make sure that their email address in the Ohio Professional Registry is accurate. Once they are registered, they will get an email to confirm that we have a valid email address and that they will attend. Teachers who do not respond will have their registration cancelled. This ensures that training spaces are available to those who are committed to attending.

Participants must have a teacher account in the Ready for Kindergarten Online system (KReady) to complete the training.

Each ST number below represents a complete training series. Please only register for one ST number if you are able to attend all three dates and times for that series. To register for a training, log into your Ohio Professional Registry account at  https://registry.occrra.org/ and search for the training ST number in the when you search for them by ST number. If a training is full, please join the waitlist and we will make every effort to accommodate you.

ST 10100044

• 10/23/2020 (9:00 am- 11:30 am)
• 10/30/2020 (9:00 am-12:00 pm)
• 11/6/2020 (9:00 am-11:30 am)

ST 10100507

• 10/29/2020 (9:00 am- 11:30 am)
• 11/4/2020 (9:00 am- 12:00 pm)
• 11/9/2020 (9:00 am- 11:30 am)

ST 10100392

• 11/5/2020 (5:00 pm- 7:30 pm)
• 11/12/2020 (5:00 pm- 8:00 pm)
• 11/19/2020 (5:00 pm- 7:30 pm)

ST 10100392

• 11/18/2020 (12:00 pm- 2:30 pm)
• 12/2/2020 (12:00 pm- 3:00 pm)
• 12/9/2020 (12:00 pm- 2:30 pm)

Data Manager and Administrator Training Opportunities

KReady Data Manager Webinar: Questions + Answers Tuesday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Data Managers will have the opportunity to ask questions in advance and receive responses from members of the leadership and support team. The team will address questions specific to the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Revised (KRA-R) and Early Learning Assessment (ELA) from topics submitted by assessment/data managers across the state via a survey. Participants will be in listen only mode and will receive answers to questions submitted to the team via chat/Q+A and live during this session. Registration Link https://www.ohio-k12.help/dmtraining/

 

ELA – Building Administrator Tuesday Talks

Tuesday, October 27, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

This session is part of a series that has been scheduled to assist new and experienced building administrators in the administration of the Early Learning Assessment (ELA). The sessions are focused on the work administrators do to facilitate the assessments in their buildings. The session is structured as a 30-minute open office hour virtual conversation with Early Learning program staff and Ohio K12 Help around specific topics. Registration link:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tSPQvxeDRPerSBlD3WLhWg

 

ELA Update Webinar

Monday, November 2, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

This webinar is for data managers responsible for submitting ELA reporting data to EMIS or EAS.  Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive responses from the support team and program specialists from the Office of Early Learning and School Readiness. The topics will include closing down the Fall 2020 assessment window, data clean up considerations and an explanation on reporting the ELA data and other important topics. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FudwSJiyTpqRX5NdQGeI1A

 

Fall 2020 Assessment Window Reminders

The Early Learning Assessment fall assessment window teacher data entry closes in the KReady system Saturday, November 14 at 11:59 PM. Programs serving children funded by Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Preschool Special Education (PSE) are required to complete the ELA and report scores for fall and spring administration windows. For the 2020-21 school year only, the minimum requirement has changed. Visit the Ohio Early Learning Assessment Webpage to learn more about the ELA Required for 2020-2021.

EMIS reporting dates are found in the EMIS Calendar found here. EAS reporting dates and directions are found in the FY21Grantee Manual.

 

For policy and implementation questions, contact:

ELAHelp@education.ohio.gov

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Early-Learning/Kindergarten/Early-Learning-Assessment

 

For technical questions, please contact the KRA Help Desk:

844-K12-OHIO (844-512-6446)

http://www.ohio-k12.help/

Dear Assessment Data Managers and Elementary Building Principals,

Thank you for supporting Ohio’s kindergarten students! With only 3 weeks remaining in the administration window, we would like to share a few updates and important reminders with you.

Teacher Training

Last chance for KRA-R teacher training!  There will be two more KRA-R teacher trainings next week. Teachers must register in STARS for the training. Prework is required so we cannot accommodate late registrations and teachers must have an account in KReady to complete the online work required in advance of the training.

KRA-R Teacher Training: Monday, October 12 from 12-3 p.m. Registration closes Friday, October 9 at 2 p.m. The last KRA-R teacher training will be held on Friday, October 16 from 1-4 p.m. Registration closes Wednesday, October 14 at 2 p.m.

Data Manager and Administrator Training Opportunities

KReady Building Admin. Webinar: Leading with Data

Wednesday, October 14 from 10-11 a.m.

This webinar is for persons that have the role of building administrator and that access building level reports using the Ready for Kindergarten Online System on the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) and/or Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). This session will feature information specific to accessing various reports and insights for using the data to make decisions regarding instruction. Registration Linkhttps://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IBwJ9cz9QxORO4xva7mgbg

KReady Data Manager Webinar: Questions + Answers Tuesday, October 20 from 10-11 a.m.

Current data managers will have the opportunity to ask questions in advance and receive responses from members of the leadership and support team. The team will address questions specific to the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Revised (KRA-R) and Early Learning Assessment (ELA) from topics submitted by assessment/data managers across the state via a survey. Participants will be in listen only mode and will receive answers to questions submitted to the team via chat/Q+A and live during this session. Registration Link https://www.ohio-k12.help/dmtraining/

Timeline

KRA-R scores must be entered into the Ready for Kindergarten Online system (also called KReady) no later than November 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Data Managers will have until Nov. 6 to clean up student demographics and transfer requests. Scale score reports will be generated after Nov. 6, and we will notify data managers when they are available.

Missing Data

If you are unable to complete assessment items for some or all students due to COVID, leave those KRA-R items blank in KReady rather than marking them Not Scorable (NS). The “NS” option is only for children on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504s, or who have been identified as an English Learner and should not be used for items missed due to COVID. The Department recommends that districts document instances when they are not able to complete the KRA-R for some students.

Third Grade Reading Guarantee

The Language and Literacy cut score for on-track in reading is 263 (scaled-score) and above. If a student scores 262 or less on the Language and Literacy area, the child is not on-track for reading on grade level. This score is for the Language and Literacy sub score only, not the overall score.

Updates to KRA-R Individual Student Report (ISR)

Individual Student Reports (ISRs) are available for each kindergarten student’s KRA-R results. The report shows the student’s overall scale score and overall performance level (emerging, approaching, demonstrating readiness). This year, the ISR will not include any of domain level scores. The domain level scores will be provided in the scale score report.

All KRA-R ISRs are found in the KReady system. The Department will not be sending out paper copies to the districts. Data managers and teachers with a KReady account have access to the ISRs for their students. Please share the KRA-R ISRs with parents in a way that makes the most sense for your school. For example, your school could mail the report to each student’s home or provide it during a parent-teacher conference.

A teacher can generate an ISR on demand after all the scores for a child have been entered in the KReady system. The ISR is available in the KReady system in 6 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Somali and Arabic. View a sample of the updated ISR in English here.

For policy and implementation questions, contact:

KRAHelp@education.ohio.gov

http://education.ohio.gov/KRA

For technical questions, please contact the KRA Help Desk: 844-K12-OHIO (844-512-6446)

http://www.ohio-k12.help/

Given the changing demands that early childhood programs are facing this school year, the Ohio Department of Education has implemented two significant changes for preschool programs: (1) a reduced set of minimum standards from Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards and (2) reduced Early Learning Assessment minimum requirements.  These changes are effective for the 2020-2021 school year only.

Early Learning and Development Standards Reduction for the 2020-2021 School Year

The prioritized standards are available on the Early Learning website. In the document, we have divided the Early Learning and Development Standards into three categories:

1. Critical and Feasible
2. Recommended/Supplemental
3. Enrichment or Not Likely Feasible

Each category has its own tab in the file. Category 1 standards are the most essential or foundational. These Critical and Feasible standards should be addressed during pandemic operations and prioritized into program planning as the minimum requirement during the 2020-2021 school year. Category 2 standards are also important skills and may be feasible to implement during the pandemic. These Recommended/Supplemental standards should be considered and incorporated into programming when possible but are not required during the 2020-21 school year. Category 3 standards are Enrichment or Not Likely Feasible. They can be used if programs have the means but should be the last set incorporated into programming during the pandemic.

 

Critical and Feasible	Most essential and foundational. Should be addresses and prioritized during pandemic operations Minimum requirement during the 2020-2021 school year.
Recommended/ Supplemental	Important skills for early learning and school readiness May be feasible to implement during the pandemic operations Should be considered when possible but are not required during the 2020-21 school year.
Enrichment or Not Likely Feasible	Can be used if programs have the means Many may not be feasible for programs to address The last set incorporated into programming during the pandemic operations

 

Changes to the Early Learning Assessment Administration Requirements for the 2020-2021 School Year

As in previous years, only programs serving children funded by the Early Childhood Education (ECE) grant or Preschool Special Education (PSE) are required to use the Early Learning Assessment. For the 2020-21 school year only, those programs are required to assess and report on only 10 items for funded children. The 10 items (or Skills, Knowledge and Behaviors; also known as SKBs) represent one from each of the 10 previously required Learning Progressions.  Data collection for the Early Learning Assessment can occur remotely through videoconferencing or through parent report over the phone, email, and sharing of video or audio recorded evidence. More information about how to assess children remotely and supports for reporting assessment data this year are under development.

The Department will continue to provide updates on state testing as they become available. Please check the website for current information around testing and assessment.

All programs who serve preschool-age children have the opportunity to use the Early Learning Assessment to improve and support the growth and development of children.

ASSESSMENT WINDOWS​

There are four assessment windows for each school year:

Fall:	Aug 15 – Nov 14 Required for reporting
Winter:	Nov 15 – Feb 14 Ongoing for best practice
Spring:	Feb 15 – May 14 Required for reporting
Summer:	May 15 – Aug 14 Ongoing for best practice

 

For the 2020-21 school year only, programs that receive ECE and/or PSE funding must complete the 10 required items during the fall and spring windows.  Programs may continue to use the assessment during the winter and summer windows.  Programs may also choose to assess students on more items beyond those required 10.

 

How can programs use the ELA as a comprehensive assessment to meet SUTQ assessment requirements?The Early Learning Assessment is a comprehensive assessment and may be used in any Ohio preschool program to meet the Step-up-to-Quality (SUTQ) assessment requirement. For the 2020-21 school year only, the 10 required items for ECE and PSE children will also meet the comprehensive assessment requirement for SUTQ.

For all ECE and PSE funded children, the minimum ELA requirement includes:

• Assess children using the 10 items (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviors; or SKBs)
  • Programs must assess and report the 10 items on ECE and PSE funded children to either EMIS or EAS twice a year: once in the fall and spring
  • Ohio’s Early Learning Assessment: 10 Required Items (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviors; SKBs)

For SUTQ rated programs:

• If a program chooses to use the ELA as their comprehensive assessment during the 2020-21 school year, the program:
  • Must assess all children in 10 required items (SKBs) a minimum of two times per year following the same schedule as the ECE and PSE programs
  • May use Ready for Kindergarten Online system (KReady) or the Bridge Form to document and report the required 10 SKBs
  • May use the Ready for Kindergarten Online system to document and generate reports on all SKBs

• If a program does not use the ELA as their comprehensive assessment, the program:
  • Must use another research-based comprehensive assessment on all children
  • Must assess ECE and PSE funded children on the 10 required ELA items and must also assess these children with their chosen comprehensive assessment

A series of sessions called Building Administrator – Tuesday Talks are scheduled to assist new and experienced building administrators in their administration of the Early Learning Assessment (ELA).  These sessions are focused on the work building admins do to facilitate the assessments in their building. The sessions will be structured as a 30-minute open office hour virtual conversation with Early Learning program staff and Ohio K12 Help around various topics.  Building leaders are invited and encouraged to participate. Visit the Building Administrator Training Page https://www.ohio-k12.help/batraining/) for more details and to join a session.

Proposed Topics

Session 1 – Aug 25, 10:30 am

A Good Start – ways to prepare teachers, students and parents/caregivers for the assessment.

Session 2 – Sep 22, 10:30 am

Supporting Your Teachers – strategies for assisting teachers during the administration window.

Session 3 – Oct 27, 10:30 am

Fall 2020 Wrap-Up – discussion on the process for closing down the current assessment window.

Session 4 – Nov 24, 10:30 am

Next Steps – using the data collected from the assessment.

*Note – Session topics may change or be updated due to demand and/or special circumstances.

Links

Building administrator Support Page

https://www.ohio-k12.help/kready-support/building-admin-support/

Building Administrator Training Page

https://www.ohio-k12.help/batraining/

Ohio’s Early Learning Assessment Teacher Training

Early Learning Assessment (ELA) training is required for teachers who will be using the assessment. The training is organized in three modules.  Each module consists of independent course work, called Jump Start Modules, and a learning session held in a Zoom virtual classroom. The ELA Jump Start Modules are 30 minutes to one hour in length and are followed by a Zoom session lasting 2-3 hours. Participants will be required to complete and pass two assessments as part of the training: the ELA Simulation assessment and a Content assessment.

Teachers must attend all three Zoom sessions, complete all required independent work, and pass the ELA Simulation and Content assessments to receive credit. Successful completion of the training will provide 10 hours of Ohio Approved Credit. Partial credit is not available.

Registration for the Early Learning Assessment trainings is through the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) at www.registry.occrra.org. 

For questions, please contact ELAHelp@education.ohio.gov.