Limitations of 2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Data
To present the test results in a generally meaningful way, the use of percentile ranks is
common. These ranks are useful in describing a score in relation to the position of other
scores in an array, and indicate the percentage of children from a norm population who fall
below a particular point. The Developing Skills Checklist used in LA 4 and Starting Points
provides two such ranks: 1) grade percentile, and 2) age percentile.
The grade percentile rank compares children against other children in the same grade at the
same time of year, regardless of the children’s ages. The age percentile rank compares a
child with other children of the same age in years and months.
For the purposes of the evaluation of the 2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points programs, the
grade percentile rank was used to compare LA 4 and Starting Points students against other
students in the same grade at the same time of year. It should be noted that the Developing
Skills Checklist has no norm tables for children tested in the Fall of prekindergarten;
therefore, Spring prekindergarten norms were used. The application of Spring
prekindergarten norms to the Fall LA 4 and Starting Points children’s test results establishes
a baseline that may underestimate the children’s actual performance relative to peers at that
time.
In order to address this limitation test results were analyzed using the age percentiles.
Results indicate the majority of students remain in the bottom quartile regardless of the use of
grade or age percentiles. Additional statistical analyses reveal the two groups are
impossible to tell apart in a typical classroom.
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Technical Appendix
LA 4 & STARTING POINTS PROGRAMS INTAKE FORM 2003-2004 School Year
Louisiana Department of Education - Division of Student Standards and Assessment
1201 North Third Street, Fourth Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Toll free: 1-877-453-2721
CONFIDENTIAL: All information that would identify any individual will be held
strictly confidential. If you have any questions, please contact Marieanne
Hollay, at (225) 219-4533 (marieanne.hollay@la.gov or Ivy Starns at (225) 342-3366
(ivy.starns@la.gov).
INSTRUCTIONS: Please use a number 2 pencil to darken the appropriate ovals or
print requested information in the designated blocks. If a mistake is made,
thoroughly erase the incorrect response.
Incorrect Marks: (Insert Direction Box)
A. CHILD IDENTIFICATION (If both the social security number (SSN) and State
identification number are available, please provide the SSN).
LAST NAME
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
FIRST NAME
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
MI
_
SSN or STATE ID No.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
TEST ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME: __________________________
SCHOOL NAME:
_____________________________
DISTRICT NAME: ______________________________________ DISTRICT CODE:
ENTRY DATE OF CHILD INTO PROGRAM:
MM /
DD / 20 YY
_ _ / _ _ / 20 _ _
CHILD'S DATE OF BIRTH
Report as MM/DD/YY
M M
_ _
/ D D / Y Y Y Y
/ _ _ / _ _ _ _
G.
0 _ _
CHILD’S GENDER:
MALE
FEMALE
H.
RACE/ ETHNIC BACKGROUND (Mark All that Apply)
__ Black (not Hispanic) __ White (Not Hispanic) __ Asian or Pacific Islander
__ Hispanic
__ Alaskan Native or American Indian
__ Other______________ (please specify)
I.
CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL CLASSIFICATION (Select one)
__ Regular Education
__ Special Education (not Gifted or Talented)
__ Gifted
__ Talented
BEFORE AGE 3, DID THIS CHILD RECEIVE SERVICES FOR A SPECIAL NEED THROUGH PART C OR
CHILDNET, SUCH AS SPEECH/LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, OR
SPECIAL INSTRUCTION?
_ Yes _ No
K. IS ENGLISH THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME?
L.
__ Yes
__ No
INDICATE CURRENT ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN U.S. DOLLARS:
__ Under $10,000
__ $10,000 - $19,999
__ $20,000 - $29,999
__ $30,000 - $39,999
__ $40,000 - $49,999
__ over $50,000
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Technical Appendix
LA 4 & STARTING POINTS PROGRAMS INTAKE FORM 2003-2004 School Year
(continued)
SSN or STATE ID NUMBER
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
M.
DOES THE CHILD QUALIFY FOR THE FREE/REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM? (select one)
__ Yes, Free Lunch
__ Yes, Reduced Lunch
__ No
N. HOW MANY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE CHILD'S HOUSEHOLD,
INCLUDING THIS CHILD?
__ 1
O.
__ 2
__ 3
__ 4
__ 5
__ 6
__ 7
__ 8
__ 9
__ 10 or more
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST GRADE IN SCHOOL THAT THE MOTHER/FEMALE GUARDIAN COMPLETED?
__ No Mother or Female Guardian
__ Below 6th grade
__ 6th grade __ 7th grade
__ 8th grade
__ 9th grade
__ 10th grade
__ 11th grade
__ GED
___ High School Graduate
__ Some Education after High School
__ Associate or Vocational Degree
__ Some College
___College Graduate __ Some Education after College
___Graduate Degree
___Don’t Know
__ Other (Specify)_____________________
P. WHAT IS THE HIGHEST GRADE IN SCHOOL THAT THE FATHER/MALE GUARDIAN COMPLETED?
__ No Father or Male Guardian
__ Below 6th grade
__ 6th grade __ 7th grade
__ 8th grade
__ 9th grade
__ 10th grade
__ 11th grade
__ GED
___ High School Graduate
__ Some Education after High School
__ Associate or Vocational Degree
__ Some College
___College Graduate __ Some Education after College
___Graduate Degree
___Don’t Know
__ Other (Specify)_____________________
Q.
WAS THIS CHILD IN ANY TYPE OF NON-PARENTAL CARE FOR A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS OR
LONGER BEFORE ENTERING THE PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM?
___ Yes
___ No
IF YES, indicate all types of child care used for 6 months or longer since
birth:
__ Child care center
__ Registered family day care
__ Care center in a church
__ At child's home with relative
__ Early Head Start (for ages 0-2 years)
__ At relative's home
__ Head Start
__ At neighbor's home
__ At child's home with paid babysitter
__ Other(Specify)_________________
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Technical Appendix
LA 4 & STARTING POINTS PROGRAMS PRE-TEST & POST-TEST FORMS
2003-2004 School Year
Louisiana Department of Education - Division of Student Standards and Assessment
1201 North Third Street, Fourth Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Toll free: 1-877-453-2721
If you have any questions, please contact Marieanne Hollay, (225) 219-4533
(mareianne.hollay@la.gov) or Ivy Starns, (225) 342-3366 (ivy.starns@la.gov).
__________________________________________________________________________________
CHILD'S NAME:
__________________________________ TEST BEGIN DATE: _____________
TEST END DATE:
_____________
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
(or State ID No.)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
DISTRICT NAME:
___________________________________
DISTRICT CODE:
SCHOOL NAME:
0_ __ __
________________________________
TEACHER’S NAME:
_____________________________
TEST TO BE GIVEN:
Pre Test
Post Test
Instructions: Please write in the Student's name and identification number on both
pretest and posttest forms. Mark "O" for Observed and "U" for the Unobserved
Activity. Darken the appropriate oval with a number 2 pencil. Mark only one
response unless instructed otherwise. If a mistake is made, completely erase the
incorrect answer and darken the correct response.
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS (Book 1)
Naming Shapes (page 1)
1. O
U
Circle
2. O
U
Square
3. O
U
Rectangle
4. O
U
Triangle
Copying Patterns (page 3)
5. O
U
R-B-R-B
Extending Patterns (page 3)
6. O
U
R-R-B-B
Counting (pages 5 and 7)
7. O
U
By Ones to 10
8. O
U
On from 4
9. O
U
Backwards
Counting Objects to 10 (page 7)
10. O
U
1-10
Identifying Numerals (pages 9-15)
Matching Sets and Numerals
Identify
Match
11. O
U
5
12. O
U
5
13. O
U
2
14. O
U
2
15. O
U
0
16. O
U
0
17. O
U
9
18. O
U
9
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Joining and Separating Sets
of Objects (page 17)
19. O
U
Left
(4)
20. O
U
Hiding (1)
21. O
U
Left
(2)
22. O
U
Hiding (3)
23. O
U
Left
(1)
24. O
U
Hiding (4)
25. O
U
Left
(3)
26. O
U
Hiding (2)
27. O
U
Left
(0)
28. O
U
Hiding (5)
Demonstrating Knowledge of
Ordinal Positions (page 19)
29. O
U First
30. O
U Third
31. O
U Second
32. O
U Fourth
LOGICAL OPERATIONS (pages 21-25)
1. O
U Classifying
2. O
U Conservation of Number
3. O
U Estimating
4. O
U Seriating
5. O
U Inserting
Technical Appendix
LA 4 & STARTING POINTS PROGRAMS PRE-TEST & POST-TEST FORMS
2003–2004 School Year
(continued)
SSN or STATE ID NUMBER
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
LANGUAGE (Book 2)
PRINT CONCEPTS (A DAY AT SCHOOL Book)
Naming Body Parts (page 1)
1. O
U
Neck
2. O
U
Shoulders
3. O
U
Elbow
4. O
U
Wrist
5. O
U
Knees
6. O
U
Ankles
Holding a Book/Turning the Pages
1. O
U
Stating Function of Body Parts (page
3)
7. O
U
Eyes
8. O
U
Nose
9. O
U
Ears
10. O
U
Mouth
Stating Personal Information (page 5)
11. O
U
First Name
12. O
U
Last Name
13. O
U
Age
Labeling Objects (page 7)
14. O
U
Demonstrating Knowledge of Position
Words (page 9)
15. O
U
Back
16. O
U
Over
17. O
U
Front
18. O
U
Through
19. O
U
Around
20. O
U
Under
21. O
U
Next to
22. O
U
Between
Telling a Five-Part Story in Sequence
(page 11)
23. O
U
Demonstrating
(page 13)
24. O
U
25. O
U
26. O
U
27. O
U
28. O
U
29. O
U
Knowledge of Opposites
Hot
Fast
Loud
Big
Happy
Good
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Identifying People Engaged in Reading
Activities
2. O
U
3. O
U
4. O
U
Differentiating Print from Pictures/
Differentiating Letters from Numerals
Clock
5. O
U
Words
6. O
U
Function
7. O
U
Numerals
8. O
U
Function
Milk Carton
9. O
U
Words
10. O
U
Function
11. O
U
Numerals
12. O
U
Function
Differentiating Numerals
Recess
13. O
U
Numerals (Shirt)
14. O
U
Numerals (Hopscotch)
15. O
U
Function
Identifying Components of Written
Communication
16. O
U
Beginning
17. O
U
Letter
18. O
U
Word
19. O
U
Sentence
20. O
U
Capital Letter
21. O
U
Period
WRITING AND DRAWING CONCEPTS
1.
O
U
Demonstrating
Left/Right Progression
2.
0
1
2
3
4
Printing First Name
3.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Drawing a Person
4.
0
1
2
3
4
Writing a "Message"; Mechanics
5.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Writing a "Message"; Quality
Technical Appendix
LA 4 & Starting Points Prekindergarten Program –
SWOT Form for Administrators
District _______________________________ School ______________________________________
Title (Principal, Early Childhood Coordinator, etc.) ________________________________________
Is this your first year to be involved in the LA 4 or Starting Points Program? YES ______NO ______
One piece of the evaluation of the LA 4 and Starting Points prekindergarten programs is a SWOT analysis
looking at Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps in planning,
developing strategies, and supporting the program.
Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors. When thinking of the strengths of the program, ask yourself
questions such as: what are the advantages? what is done well? what relevant resources are available? what
do other people see as the strengths of the program? When thinking of the weaknesses of the program, ask
yourself questions such as: what could be improved? is anything done badly? what needs to be avoided?
Opportunities and Threats are external factors. A useful approach to looking at opportunities is to look at your strengths
and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities. Alternatively, look at your weaknesses and ask yourself whether
you could open up opportunities by eliminating them. When thinking of threats to the program, ask yourself questions such
as: what obstacles does the program face? could any of the weaknesses seriously threaten the program?
Please list 2 or 3 items under each of the following sections to complete your SWOT analysis from the
perspective of an administrator in a school offering this program.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Technical Appendix
LA 4 & Starting Points Prekindergarten Programs –
SWOT Form for Teachers
District _______________________________ School ______________________________________
Is this your first year to be involved in the LA 4 or Starting Points Program? YES _____ NO ______
One piece of the evaluation of the LA 4 and Starting Points prekindergarten programs is a SWOT analysis
looking at Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps in planning,
developing strategies, and supporting the program.
Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors. When thinking of the strengths of the program, ask yourself
questions such as: what are the advantages? what is done well? what relevant resources are available? what
do other people see as the strengths of the program? When thinking of the weaknesses of the program, ask
yourself questions such as: what could be improved? is anything done badly? what needs to be avoided?
Opportunities and Threats are external factors. A useful approach to looking at opportunities is to look at your strengths
and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities. Alternatively, look at your weaknesses and ask yourself whether
you could open up opportunities by eliminating them. When thinking of threats to the program, ask yourself questions such
as: what obstacles does the program face? could any of the weaknesses seriously threaten the program?
Please list 2 or 3 items under each of the following sections to complete your SWOT analysis from the
perspective of a teacher of a prekindergarten classroom.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
2003-2004 LA 4 and Starting Points Full Report
Technical Appendix