Facts In Action

Outcome measurement is important because it helps to document our achievements, to communicate to others what we do, and to strengthen and support our programs by letting us know how we're doing. Starting an outcome measurement system can be a daunting task, particularly when you do not already have a measurement tool. Rather than recreating the wheel, many assessment tools, ranging from child development indicators to indicators of general program outcomes such as staff performance measures and environmental quality measurements, are readily available online or through other sources.

Using an existing tool has many benefits. Generally, professionally prepared tools have been tested to ensure reliability and validity. In addition, you can use existing tools as a starting-off point, revising it to meet your program's specific needs or to include the questions of interest to your program. However, you should be aware that existing tools might vary in quality, ease of use, affordability, and accessibility.

The following are some online resources for finding information about assessment tools for measuring child- and program-specific outcomes:

• National Network for Child Care www.nncc.org: This web site contains links to other evaluation resources (go to "search" and enter "evaluation"). The following are a sample of evaluation tools that can be found through this site: Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS), the Infant Toddler Rating Scale (ITERS), and the Preschool Rating Scale. (Environmental Quality Measures, Staff Performance Measures)

• Early Head Start National Resource Center www.ehsnrc.org: This site includes a publication called "The 1999 Consumers Guide to Professional Development Resources," which contains a "Conceptual Framework for Professional Development Activities" including 12 steps for creating an effective program and a professional development plan. There is also an extensive bibliography of additional resources for program assessment and evaluation. (Staff Performance Measures)

• Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation www.nafcc.org/books/index.shtml: Contains resources for Family Child Care, including information on relationships, activities, environment, and developmental learning goals. (Environmental Quality Measures)http://www.nafcc.org/documents/QualStd.pdf

• ERIC Database http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/2001/mcclel01.html: The "Early Childhood Assessment" section contains information about early childhood assessment resources such as evaluation tools and texts describing the tools, including a checklist of social attributes to measure young children's social development. It also contains many related articles, such as how to use portfolios, the development of preschoolers, the development of kindergarteners, and young children's social development. (Child Outcomes)

A Special Issue of Facts in Action — Over the past year, Facts in Action published a series of articles designed to take you step-by-step through the process of measuring outcomes in your program or family child care home. This series of articles has been repackaged into a special issue of the Facts in Action newsletter and is now available for only $2.00 per copy.

If you would like to order this special issue of Facts in Action, please contact:

Erika Argersinger
Early Education Clearinghouse
Associated Early Care and Education, Inc.
95 Berkeley Street, Suite 306
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 695-0700 x271
eargersinger@associatedearlycareandeducation.org

Facts in Action, June 2002