Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment

1 Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK). Assessment Teacher's Manual FOURTH EDITION. Assessment Periods 1, 2, and 3. Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . This document was prepared by the Office of Early Learning in collaboration with the Florida Center for Reading Research. Implementation of the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment is being coordinated by the Office of Early Learning and the Florida Center for Reading Research. Questions relating to the background and purpose of the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK). Assessment , its relationship to the instructional program, the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK). Assessment instruments, directions, and manuals should be directed to: Office of Early Learning Florida Department of Education Toll-free: (866) 447-1159. Email: Copyright 2013 Florida Department of Education All rights reserved.

2 No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system for any other purpose, without permission in writing from the Florida Department of Education, with the exception of those pages containing a permission line, for which unlimited reproduction rights are granted to teachers for classroom use. Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . Table of Contents I. Welcome 1. Professional Development Options 1. How to Use the VPK Assessment Administration DVD 1. Frequently Asked Questions 2. II. Overview of Assessment 3. What is Assessment ? 3. What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Assessment ? 3. Examples of Formal Assessments 3. Examples of Informal Assessments 3. Types of Assessments 3. Screening 3. Progress Monitoring 3.

3 Why Do We Collect This Information? 3. III. The Florida VPK Assessment 4. Purpose 4. Historical Background 4. Description of the Florida VPK Assessment 5. IV. Administering the Assessment 6. Florida VPK Assessment Administration Procedures 6. Assessment Periods 6. Administration Schedule 6. Administration Considerations 7. The Environment 7. Teacher Behaviors 7. VPK Assessment Accommodations 7. Teacher Preparation Before Administering the VPK Assessment 8. Preparation and Use of Assessment Materials 8. Presentation of Assessment Materials and Measures 8. Script, Feedback, and Prompts 9. Teacher Comments and Responses During Administration 10. Florida VPK Assessment Items and Measures 11. Assessment Items 11. Multiple Choice Items 11. Free Response Items 11. Description of VPK Assessment Measures 11. Print Knowledge Measure 11. Phonological Awareness Measure 11.

4 Critical Points to Remember About the Phonological Awareness Measure 12. Mathematics Measure 12. Critical Points to Remember About the Mathematics Measure 12. Oral Language/Vocabulary Measure 13. Critical Points to Remember About the Oral Language/Vocabulary Measure 13. Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . Completing the Response booklet 13. Recording Responses on Multiple Choice Items 14. Recording Responses on Free Response Items 15. Recording Responses on the Oral Language/Vocabulary Measure 15. Scoring Responses 15. Special Scoring Procedures for the Mathematics Measure 15. Special Scoring Procedures for the Oral Language/Vocabulary Measure 17. V. VPK Assessment Online Reporting System 19. Description of the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment Online Reporting System 19. VPK Administrator Initial Registration Wizard, Responsibilities, and Log-In 19.

5 Initial Registration Wizard New VPK Administrators 19. Initial Registration Wizard Existing VPK Administrators 23. New and Existing VPK Administrators Responbilities and Log-In 28. VPK Administrator Home Page 29. Setting Up the VPK Center in the Online Reporting System 29. Provider Profile Tab 29. Center Staff Tab 30. Classrooms Tab 32. Children Tab 33. VPK Administrator Assessment Data Tab 34. Assessment Data Tab Making Changes 34. VPK Administrator - Assessment Reports Tab 35. Overview of Assessment Report Types 35. Assessment Reports Tab Create a Report 36. VPK Instructor Log-In 37. VPK Instructor Home Page 38. Navigating the Online Reporting System 39. Assessment Data Tab 39. Assessment Data Tab Making Changes 40. VPK Instructor - Assessment Reports Tab 41. Overview of Assessment Report Types 41. Assessment Reports Tab Create a Report 41. Customizing VPK Instruction Tab 43.

6 Parent Letter Tab 43. VI. Instructional Implications 45. Interpreting Assessment Reports 45. Customizing Instruction to Meet the Needs of Children 45. VII. Glossary 48. VIII. Resources 50. Helpful Links 50. Sample Parent Letter - Introducing the VPK Assessment 51. VPK Assessment Accommodations 52. Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . THIS PAGE WAS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . I. Welcome The Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment Teacher's Manual provides valuable information regarding the purpose of monitoring and assessing children's academic progress and how this information can be used to meet the instructional needs of each child. Information is also provided on the development of the VPK Assessment , how to administer, record, and score each of the Assessment measures and input data in the VPK Assessment Online Reporting System.

7 Throughout this manual, terms that appear in a bold italic font are defined in the Glossary at the end of the manual. Professional Development Options It is highly recommended that VPK directors, administrators, and teachers participate in one of the following professional development options to ensure the proper administration of the VPK. Assessment measures: o Instructor-Led Professional Development How to Administer the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment is available through the DOE VPK Regional Facilitators and other DOE-Approved trainers from early learning coalitions and school districts across the state. Information will be provided on the development of the VPK Assessment and how to administer, record, and score each of the VPK Assessment measures. Participants will also receive an overview of the VPK Assessment Online Reporting System. For more information and to register for instructor-led training opportunities in your area, visit the Florida Department of Children and Families' website at https://training01- Providers on Probation who chose the DOE- Approved Staff Development Plan must participate in this instructor-led training to receive credit on their DCF transcript.

8 O A VPK Assessment Administration DVD - is included in each Assessment kit and contains the same information provided in the instructor-led training. This user friendly DVD provides a detailed training on how to how to administer, record, and score each of the VPK. Assessment measures. VPK providers who choose this option should also read the VPK. Assessment Teacher's Manual for an overview of the VPK Assessment Online Reporting System. How to Use the VPK Assessment Administration DVD. The VPK Assessment Administration DVD may be used to provide professional development in one the following ways: 1. VPK directors and administrators must watch the Full-Length version of the training on the Administration DVD before sharing information on the VPK Assessment with staff. Then the View by Chapters version of the training may be used to facilitate professional development with staff.

9 2. VPK directors, administrators, and teachers may choose to watch the Full-Length version of the training on the Administration DVD instead of attending an instructor-led training to learn how to administer, record, and score each of the VPK Assessment measures. 1. Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment . Before VPK directors and administrators share information on the VPK Assessment with their staff or VPK teachers administer the Assessment measures to children, we strongly encourage them to: Read Section II in this manual Watch the Full-Length version of the training on the Administration DVD and complete all of the activities Practice administering the Assessment with a peer Frequently Asked Questions 1. Are the Assessment measures aligned with the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for Four-Year-Olds? Yes, the skill areas and the methods used for Assessment align to the standards and benchmarks.

10 The standards indicate what a child should know and be able to do at the end of his/her VPK year. The measures are also aligned with the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener which includes the Broad Screen/Progress Monitoring measure of the Florida Assessment for Instruction in Reading (FAIR) ( , letter naming and phonemic awareness in kindergarten). 2. Will the VPK Assessment results be used for VPK accountability? No, there is no provision in law to use the results of these assessments in the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate calculation. The Assessment measures provide feedback to teachers about children's progress in mastering these four specific skill sets: Print Knowledge, Phonological Awareness, Mathematics, and Oral Language/Vocabulary. 3. Will the VPK Assessment replace other assessments that you might be using? This decision needs to be made locally and should be based on other assessments administered and the purposes of each of those assessments.