Supporting States in Building a Child Outcomes Measurement
System
Prepared for the ECO Advisers MeetingFebruary 2011
Two Frameworks
• Child Outcomes Measurement System
• Family Experiences and Outcomes Measurement System
2Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Child Outcomes Measurement System
• The set of components a state needs to have in place to make full use of child outcomes data.
• NOT just a data system or a data collection method.
3Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Purpose of the Framework
• Provide a common language for ECO and other TA providers to use in discussing COMSs with states.
• Provide a organizing structure of categorizing resources and state examples related to implementation of a COMS.
• Serve as the organizing structure for the state self assessment
4Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Framework and Self-Assessment
• FRAMEWORK– Set of components and quality indicators– Provides the structure for the self-assessment
• SELF-ASSESSMENT – Scale that provides criteria for levels of
implementation within each quality indicator– Rating assigned based on level of
implementation within each indicator
5Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Process for Framework Development
• Built off what we had learned from ECO work with states
• Literature review• Repeated discussion and
review internally and with 7 Partner States
6Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Framework Partner States
State Part C 619
California X
Colorado X X
Delaware X X
Maine X X
Minnesota X X
New York X
Ohio X X
7Early Childhood Outcomes Center
8
COMS Framework Components
Data Collection and Trans-
mission
Analysis Reporting Using Data
Purpose
Evaluation
Cross-system Coordination
Quality Indicator
• Provides additional detail as to what constitutes quality implementation of the component.
• 18 quality indicators across the 7 components
9Early Childhood Outcomes Center
10Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Purpose
Data Collection and Transmission
Analysis
Reporting
Using Data
Evaluation
Cross-System Coordination
Components Quality Indicators
Purpose
1. State has articulated purpose(s) of COMS.
Data Collection and Transmission
2. Data collection procedures are carried out efficiently and effectively.
3. Providers, supervisors, and others involved in data collection have the required knowledge, skills, and commitment.
4. State's method for entering, transmitting, and storing data is effective and efficient.
Analysis
5. State identifies accountability and program improvement questions related to child outcomes.
6. Local programs identify accountability and program improvement questions related to child outcomes.
7. State agency analyzes data in a timely manner.
8. Local programs analyze data in a timely manner.
9. State agency ensures completeness and accuracy of data.
Reporting
10. State agency interprets, reports, and communicates information related to child outcomes.
11. Local programs interpret, report, and communicate information related to child outcomes.
Using Data
12. State agency makes regular use of information on child outcomes to improve programs.
13. Local programs makes regular use of information on child outcomes to improve programs.
Evaluation14. State evaluates its COMS regularly.
Cross-system Coordination
15. Part C and 619 coordinate child outcomes measurement.
16. Child outcomes measurement is integrated across early childhood (EC) programs statewide.
17. Child outcomes measurement is aligned with state’s early learning guidelines/standards.
18. State has a longitudinal data system to link child outcomes data from EC program participation to K–12 data.
Elements
a. State has…b. State has…c. State agency..d. Representative..e. State agency…f. State ……g. State provides…h. State has..
3 Quality Indicators for Data Collection and Transmission
• Data collection procedures are carried out efficiently and effectively.
• Providers, supervisors, and others involved in data collection have the required knowledge, skills, and commitment.
• State's method for entering, transmitting, and storing data is effective and efficient.
11Early Childhood Outcomes Center
The Self Assessment
12Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Purpose of the Self Assessment
• Assist states in setting priorities for improving their COMS
• Provide information to assist states in advocating for resources for systems development
13
• Provide guidance to states on what constitutes a high quality child outcomes measurement system.
Early Childhood Outcomes Center
• Each QI has multiple elements.
• Evidence for the extent of implementation for each element is provided.
• Each element is rated as• NY = Not Yet or Don’t know• IP = In Process, or• IF = Fully Implemented
• The QI is given a rating based on the ratings of the elements.
14Early Childhood Outcomes Center
• Live link from the element • Describes the element• Describes what “fully
implemented looks like”• Provides examples of what
“In process” might look like• Provides examples of how
states are addressing the element
• Provides additional resources related to the element
15Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Back-up for Each Element
The Scale for the Quality Indicators
Early Childhood Outcomes Center 16
Implementation of Elements
Quality Indicator
Score
All elements are fully implemented 7
Nearly all elements are fully implemented and the rest are in process
6
Most of the elements are fully implemented and the rest are in process.
5
At least one element is fully implemented and the rest are in process
4
All of the elements are in process 3
Some of the elements are in process 2
None of the elements are yet in process 1
17Early Childhood Outcomes Center
• Information can be entered online
• Will be stored for state by ECO
• Score from the QI page will automatically transfer to the overall score page
• Online scoring will show multiple marking points (i.e., change over time)
18Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Web-based Scoring?
Technology Support
• Online capability – Store the evidence (text)– Transfer QI rating to the score sheet and generate
bars– Also, allows ECO to use the aggregate state data to
track where states are overall in building COMS
• Downloadable version with many of the same features (Except ECO access to data)
19Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Working with the Self Assessment
20Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Possible Process
1. State identifies the highest priority QI(s).
2. Stakeholders convened– Priority QIs reviewed and rated– Plan developed to address elements not yet
fully implemented.– Progress reviewed with stakeholders at
regular intervals.
3. State identifies next set of QI(s), etc.
21Early Childhood Outcomes Center
Our questions for you
1. General impressions?– Content: Comprehensive? Appropriate?– Format/layout: User friendly? Understandable?– Length?– Scoring: Reasonable guideline?
2. Investment of resources– Continue development?
• Pick new partners?– Pursue the web version? Heavily? Lightly?– Pursue the downloadable Word version?– How important is it that ECO track where states are in building
their systems?
22Early Childhood Outcomes Center
For more information
• For updates to the framework and the self-assessment and resources to support the quality indicators:
www.the-eco-center.org
23Early Childhood Outcomes Center