Direct Access to Achievement

Save the dates! The ODE/COSA 2013 Summer Assessment Institute is set for Aug. 1-2 at the Eugene Hilton. This year’s theme is “Getting to 40/40/20: How to Make it All Add Up.” 

Each year, the Summer Assessment Institute draws more than 400 educators from throughout the state who are interested in hearing from national leaders in the education field, as well as in learning from their Oregon peers. The Institute also builds in valuable time for district teams to craft plans of action for the next school year.

We have a stellar line-up this year focused on providing the information that districts need to make Oregon’s 40/40/20 vision a reality. Keynote and plenary speakers will discuss writing and math in the Common Core State Standards, the new assessments, PLCs and data teams. A wealth of breakout sessions will feature topics such as reading across content areas, as well as success stories from Oregon educators in the areas of ELL, data teams, CCSS implementation, assessment and much more.

Registration is open now on the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators website, http://www.cosa.k12.or.us. (Click on the “Professional Development” tab). 

More than 40 teachers from throughout Oregon have completed a training in classroom assessment through the Direct Access to Achievement Project. The Embedded Formative Classroom Assessment training began with a daylong session in February and ended with another session March 4. The training was developed by project volunteers in response to requests from the field for strategies on how to embed engaging formative assessment in regular classroom instruction. It is conducted by Carol Middleton and Linda Vanderford of Clackamas ESD, which is also the host venue. Comments from participants included these: “Practical and timely. I can use in my classroom this week,” and “It was valuable to learn how to break down the standard and focus on small aspects of the standard.” For more information, including access to all of the resources presented during the training, see the Events & training > Classroom assessment menu at left, or send us an email.

The Oregon DATA Project was recently featured in a lengthy article by EDUCAUSE Online. The best way to read the interactive article is online, by clicking HERE.  You may also download a hard copy by clicking on the attachment link below. 

The Direct Access to Achievement Project has been featured in several national publications recently. An article in Governing magazine, "States Lead Effort to Utilize Data in Education," mentions Oregon as a state taking "great strides" in the push toward harnessing data to improve instruction and policy. Read the entire article HERE. In Converge, a national educational technology magazine, writer Tanya Roscorla explores the project in depth, talking to state officials as well as participants in the DATA Project at the ESD and district level. Click here to read the article.

A recording is now available of a national webinar featuring  the Oregon DATA Project and two participating districts, Redmond and Oregon City, where creating a culture for data use is taking hold. The webinar was held as part of a series by the School Turnaround Learning Community on "Using Data for Effective Turnaround." To listen to the 90-minute session, click HERE.

The Oregon Department of Education has had several opportunities lately to contribute to the resources available to states receiving Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) grants from the Institute of Education Sciences.

Nearly 200 teachers around Oregon rolled up their sleeves recently to better understand the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Writing. The Strand 4 training from Direct Access to Achievement, “Essential Skills in Writing: Impact on Teaching and Learning,” took place May 17-18. A third day, May 19, was reserved for school teams to polish up their implementation plan.

Participants are using the CCSS to look at standards that are already in place, as well as changes to standards that will affect their instruction. They will use this information to critically assess their approach to the essential skill of writing. Participants created one of two things: a curriculum map for at least one grade level, or a K-12 district assessment calendar.

The training was broadcast from Clackamas ESD, which hosted 55 participants, to seven ESDs and about 120 participants around the state. Malheur ESD in Ontario had more than 50 people attending, with about a dozen each at Douglas, Lane, Lake County, Harney County, High Desert and Umatilla Morrow ESDs.

The Oregon DATA Project training is one of the resources, services and support that ODE is providing to the field on the Common Core State Standards.

The Direct Access to Achievement (DATA) Project has just released a short informational video that captures the incredible partnerships created throughout the education enterprise, the amazing K-12 network built for staff and the significant impact this work is having on student learning. Please take 10 minutes--actually 9:41--to view the video. Please feel free to repost this link wherever you think it would be helpful.

     The Oregon Direct Access to Achievement Project has earned mention in a statewide teachers' magazine, a national blog, and a regional newspaper.

      The June 2010 issue of Today's OEA magazine devotes a four-page spread to the project. "Data driven: A Statewide Grant Turns Test Scores into Teaching Strategies" takes a look at project activities––and their results--around the state. Download a printable copy HERE.
      In an entry titled "Data, Data Everywhere: But Are There Brains to Think?," a blog focusing on stimulus issues highlights the DATA Project. The writers discuss the importance of training people to use data, then say: "Among the pioneering states is Oregon, which is training teachers and principals on data use and has a comprehensive website that's been a good model." Read the entire blog entry HERE.
      The good work being done in the Grant School District in eastern Oregon is featured in an article in the Blue Mountain Eagle. "The WRITE stuff: Local teachers use data to help students hone their skills" talks about the great strides student at Humboldt Elementary have made in achievement, thanks to teacher Susie Garrison and her work with the Oregon DATA Project. Download the story HERE.