year of implementation of this screening system. Two Florida laws, sections 411.01(4)(o)-(p)
and 1008.21, Florida Statutes (F.S.), require that the Department of Education implement a
statewide system of developmental screening for all children entering public school kindergarten
for the first time. This was accomplished through the administration of the
. These instruments were selected through a Request For Proposals (RFP)
process as being appropriate measures of the “expectations for school readiness” listed in section
411.04(4)(o)3-17, F.S.
It should be noted that the “expectations for school readiness” listed in section 411.04(4)(o)1-2,
F.S., specifically relate to the child’s immunization status, vision and hearing screenings, and
physical development. While these areas are not directly assessed by the
the Department of Education Automated Student Information System. Section 1003.22, F.S.,
requires that all children receive a health examination within one year prior to enrollment in
school unless the religious exemption allowed by law applies. This examination includes a
vision and hearing screening. Two data elements within the automated student information
system address the child’s status in relationship to the school health entry examination and
immunization status. The report encl
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 601 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0478 • www.fldoe.org
MEMORANDUM
February 17, 2004
Page 2
READINESS CATEGORIES USED FOR REPORTING
The results for the
ESI-K
were calculated by using the ratings teachers assigned to 19 activities
performed by the children screened. Scores are reported in the following readiness categories:
q
Ready Now
- the development and abilities of these children were within the range of what
is expected for this age group
q
Getting Ready
- the results of the screening were inconclusive; there may have been other
factors that influenced the student’s performance on the day of screening
q
Not Ready Yet
- age appropriate development was not evidenced during the screening
The results for the
Ready-for-School Behavioral Screener
were based on the ratings teachers
assigned to a checklist of 93 items. The items were grouped into 14 standards for reporting and
scores for each standard are reported in the following readiness categories:
q
Emerging (E
) - may require additional instruction to more fully acquire needed skills
q
Competent (C
) - development is proceeding at an adequate pace
q
Proficient (P)
- demonstrated proficiency of needed skill
The results for the
Work Sampling System
were based on the ratings teachers assigned to the
performance indicators for five domain areas. Scores for each domain are reported in the
following readiness categories:
q
Not Yet (N)
- the skill was not demonstrated
q
In Process (I)
- the skill was not demonstrated consistently
q
Proficient (P)
- the skill was demonstrated
2003-04 RESULTS OF THE
ESI-K
For the 169,972 kindergarten children with valid results on the
ESI-K
, these teacher ratings
indicated the following:
q
?
84 percent were considered “Ready Now.”
This means that the development and abilities
of these children were within the range of what is expected for this age group.
q
?
12 percent were considered to be “Getting Ready.”
This means that the results of the
screening were inconclusive and that there may have been other factors that influenced the
child’s performance on the day of screening. Some schools and districts may have elected to
re-screen these children at a later date. (Re-screening results are not reported to the state.)
q
?
4 percent were considered “Not Ready Yet.”
This means that age-appropriate
development was not evidenced during the screening.
The information described above is also found in the
Florida School Readiness Uniform
Screening System State Report of District Results
(see pages 12 and 16), distributed to all
MEMORANDUM
February 17, 2004
Page 3
districts by the Department of Education’s contractor, and is illustrated in the graph below.
These findings are similar to the 2002-03 findings and are important for establishing baseline
information about students upon their entry into kindergarten.
ESI-K: Students with a Reported Score
(
4%
12%
84%
2003-04
Florida School Readiness Uniform Screening System Results
N=169,972)
Ready Now
Getting Ready
Not Ready Yet
Information about kindergarten children was collected on 95% of the kindergarteners in
membership (191,956) during the fall 2003 FTE reporting period. In addition to the results of
the screening, teachers provide the reason a child could not be screened. The Department uses
this information to track the status of as many children as possible. Screening is not valid or
appropriate if:
•
The child began school after the 21
st
calendar day of school.
•
The child was retained from the previous year.
•
The child has limited English proficiency.
•
The child has significant disabilities.
•
Valid scores could not be determined because of coding or gridding problems.
Information was collected on 182,651 children and valid screening results were available for
93% of them. In 2003-04, accurate screening results on the
ESI-K
were determined for 12,033
more children than in 2002-03, an increase of 4%. Information obtained indicated the following:
•
6% - Screening was not appropriate (5% in 2002-03).
•
1% - A valid score could not be determined (5% in 2002-03).
•
?
93% - Valid results were reported (90% in 2002-2003).
?
·
78% were “Ready Now” (74% in 2002-03).
?
·
11% were “Getting Ready” (12% in 2002-03).
?
MEMORANDUM
February 17, 2004
Page 4
·
4% were “Not Ready Yet” (4% in 2002-03).
DISTRICT REPORT OF SCHOOL RESULTS
School districts have received copies of the
District Report of School Results
directly from the
Department of Education’s contractor. These data may be used in the development of local
School Improvement Plans.
Copies of the
District Report of School Results
for the Interim Executive Director of the Florida
Partnership for School Readiness and the contact persons for the local school readiness coalitions
are enclosed. The Florida Partnership for School Readiness will be using these data, along with
demographic information from multiple sources, to produce more detailed reports in the future.
We have learned much from our second year of implementation and will be effecting additional
improvements for the 2004-05 administration.
If you have additional questions regarding the School Readiness Uniform Screening System,
please contact Cathy Bishop, 850/245-0478, or via email at cathy.bishop@fldoe.org; or Wanda
Akisanya, 850/245-0782, or via email at wanda.akisanya@fldoe.org.
We appreciate your support, collaboration, and ongoing commitment to young children and their
families.
JH/cbm
Enclosures:
Florida School Readiness Uniform Screening System: State Report of District
Results, Fall 2003 –
All
District Report of School Results
– Interim Executive Director, Florida Partnership
for School Readiness; and Contact Persons, Local School Readiness Coalitions
cc:
?
District Coordinators of Assessment
Contact Persons, Local School Readiness Coalitions
Gladys Wilson, Interim Executive Director, Florida Partnership for School Readiness
