Learn about the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and how it applies to Minnesota quality initiatives. Learn to use the CLASS® to identify and promote opportunities for learning during book reading.
Get an overview of the CLASS®. Gain an understanding of the areas and dimensions captured by the Pre-K CLASS®, why the CLASS® is used in Minnesota’s Quality Improvement efforts, and the CLASS® observation process.
Learn how to use the CLASS® to identify interactions that help expand children’s learning during book reading activities. Obtain strategies to promote such interactions.
This report summarizes research and best practices on assessing early childhood trainer skills and competencies.
This report summarizes research and best practices on assessing early childhood trainer skills and competencies. It was completed under contract with Child Care Aware of Minnesota and made possible with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services using federal funding.
Assessing Trainers of Early Childhood Practitioners: A Review of Current Literature (PDF)
Learn more about CLASS®, an observational assessment tool that’s used to assess classroom quality.
The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) is an observational assessment tool designed to assess classroom quality.
The CLASS®, developed at the University of Virginia, focuses on teacher-child interactions. Such interactions contribute to a student’s academic achievement. Results of the CLASS® help educators understand and improve their teaching practices and classroom environments.
The CLASS® measure includes 10 subscales organized into three domains:
Each subscale is scored on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 and 2 considered to be low-range; 3, 4, and 5 are mid-range; and 6 and 7 are high range. A typical cycle for the CLASS® involves about 20 minutes of observing followed by 10 minutes of scoring.
We’re examining how a preschool theatre arts program impacts a child’s storytelling, play, and social skills.
For this project, we will use a wait-list control design to document the potential direct and moderated impact of a preschool theatre arts program on the school readiness of ethnically diverse, low-income preschoolers, including English language learners (ELL).
The program, called Early Bridges, aims to build the storytelling and theatre arts skills of preschoolers in underserved communities.
For the project, we’ll examine the Early Bridges’ impact on oral language (storytelling), play, and theatre arts and learning-related social skills. We’ll also examine whether different groups of pre-K students benefit from Early Bridges differently than other groups of pre-K students (e.g., ELL vs. non-ELL).
We’re working to determine whether two new tools that we developed with the Children’s Theatre Company are psychometrically sound.
This project aims to determine whether two new tools that we developed with the Children’s Theatre Company – the Preschool Theatre Arts Rubric and the Preschool Storytelling Rubric – are psychometrically sound.
Psychometrically sound measures can be used by theatre arts programs, early childhood teachers, and researchers to explore the potential impact of early childhood theatre arts programming on young children’s school readiness.
Our online learning community offers ongoing support for coaches and professional development providers.
The CLASS® Online Learning Community (OLC) provides CLASS® coaches and professional development providers with ongoing support on using the CLASS®.
OLCs include reviewing relevant content, practicing CLASS®-related skills, and opportunities for chats.
The community is open to individuals who have completed CLASS® Observer Reliability training (or are reliable CLASS® users) and Putting CLASS® into Practice trainings for coaches or for educators. Get in touch with us at ceed@umn.edu for more information.
We work with the Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company to evaluate the impact of an outreach program that aims to build children’s storytelling and theater arts skills.
We work with the Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) to evaluate Early Bridges, a preschool theatre outreach program that aims to build the storytelling and theatre arts skills of preschoolers in underserved communities.
Currently, we are working with CTC on two research and evaluation projects: Measuring the oral narrative and theatre arts skills of preschool children and Impact of a theater arts program on the school readiness of low-income preschoolers.