Sharing Assessment Information with Parents Using Report Card Templates (ID 371)

Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick

sarah.fitzpatrick@ncca.iewww.ncca.ie

EECERA 2007

Sharing assessment information with parents using Report Card Templates

School-based developmental initiative

Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick and NCCA colleagues

30 August 2007

3

Who is the NCCA?

NCCA statutory remit (1998)

– advise the Minister …curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools

Consultation and partnership

– education partners

– early childhood sector

Context Design Significance

4

What are the different early years settings?

Context Design Significance

Setting Provider Age of child

Child minding Regulated/unregulated (voluntary service)

birth to school age

Centre-based child care

Nursery, creche (private/community service)

2-3 months to school age

Playgroups and pre-schools

Sessional services, e.g., Montessori, Naíonraí(private service)

3-5 years

Primary schools Infant classes(public/state service)

4-6 years

5

What are the issues?

Towards a Framework for Early Learning: Consultation Report (2005)

Primary Curriculum Review (2005)

– Information on assessment

– Support for assessment practice

– Advice on reporting

– Suggestions for partnership with parents

Context Design Significance

6

How is the NCCA responding?

Activity Date

Literature review: international reporting policy/practice 2006

Development of draft Report Card Templates RCTs 2007

School based developmental initiative on the RCTs 2007

Commissioned research on reporting in primary schools 2007

Commissioned paper on assessment in the early years 2007

Guidelines on Assessment - Primary School Curriculum 2007

Guidelines on Assessment - Framework for Early Learning 2008

Context Design Significance

7

What are the RCTs?

Report Card Templates…

Infants, first to sixth Mid-year, end-of year Common sections

– Child as a learner: curriculum subjects/areas

– Child’s approach to learning, social/personal development

– Next steps in child’s learning and advice for parents

Range of reporting formats– Rating scales, blank boxes, etc.

Input from children, parents and teachers

Context Design Significance

8

What are the mid-year RCTs?

Less detail than end-of-year RCTs Emphasis on supporting progress Key focus on role of parents

For Infant classes… Overview of learning (progress, special achievements)

– Curriculum

– Social and personal development Areas of learning to focus on Ways you can help your child learn

Context Design Significance

9

What is the SBDI?

School-based developmental initiative To gather information on

– Accessibility

– Usability

– Feasibility of RCTs Participants

– 6 schools (mid-term RCTs)

– 27 schools (end-of-term RCTs)

Context Design Significance

10

One school’s experience…

Link to Video

Context Design Significance

11

What did we learn (mid-year RCTs)?

Accessibility

– Conciseness / language / graphics Usability

– Teachers and parents liked content headings

– Information for parents / later reference Manageability

– Time / record-keeping

Context Design Significance

12

What did we learn from teachers?

Successes:

Valuable contribution to reporting practice

Structure and focus for parent / teacher meetings

Professional development opportunity for staff

Context Design Significance

13

What did we learn from teachers?

Challenges:

Shared language for reporting

Objectivity

Meaning of grades, scales, comments

Honesty/sensitivity

Accountability

Context Design Significance

14

What did we learn from infant RCTs?

Context Design Significance

Qualitiative, descriptive reporting for younger children

Involvement of children in evaluating their own progress– This is me learning…– I am good at…– I would like to do better in…

Parents as participants, rather than partners

15

What are our next steps?

Revise the RCTs

– size/readability

– additional space for reporting

– where/how to record child’s personal details

– clarity of headings Report on the SBDI Advise the Minister for Education and Science Begin project on supporting transfer of children

Context Design Significance

16

What are our next steps?

Develop ACTION Assessment, Curriculum and Teaching Innovation on the Net

– Showing rather than telling

– Complement guidelines

– Teaching scenarios, resources and solutions

– Range of media - text, video, photos

Context Design Significance

17

Míle buíochas… A thousand thanks!

Sarah FitzPatrickDeputy CEONational Council for Curriculum and AssessmentRepublic of Ireland

sarah.fitzpatrick@ncca.iewww.ncca.ie