The Assessment Training Center (ATC) is designed to disseminate CEED’s expertise on observation, professional development and relationship-based professional development on quality measures used statewide using multiple methodologies. The original funding for the ATC was received through a planning grant from the McKnight Foundation.

ATC works with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Department of Education, and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to provide Environmental Rating Scales training and Classroom Assessment Scoring System training.

ATC Projects

Parent Aware
The purpose of the Parent Aware is to create a quality rating system for child care centers and family child care providers in Minnesota.

Parent Aware Evaluation Project (Child Trends) (archived)
The purpose of the Parent Aware Evaluation project completed by Child Trends, Inc. was to create a quality rating system for child care centers and homes in Minnesota.

Identifying Essential Elements of Child Care (IEEoC) (archived)
The project spanned 13 childcare centers in Hennepin County (the seat county of Minneapolis, MN) tracking the effect of childcare environment and parenting behavior on infant and toddler development in a spectrum of childcare settings, focused on families eligible for subsidized childcare assistance.

ATC Services

The following list includes services available through CEED's ATC staff.

CLASS Online Learning Community (OLC)

The CLASS Online Learning Community (OLC) begins in October 2011. With continued funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the OLC will continue to provide CLASS™ coaches and professional development providers with support on using the CLASS™. The OLC will also expand to include more advanced opportunities for past OLC participants. If you have completed CLASS Reliability and Putting CLASS™ into Practice trainings and would like to join the OLC, please contact Rosemary Frazel at fraz0004@umn.edu. 

Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS™)

The CLASS™ examines social-emotional and instructional interactions that contribute to student’s social competence and academic achievement. 

• Classroom Observation Services - completed by reliable CEED observers
• Trainings ( brochure regarding CLASS Trainings)
  • CLASS™ Awareness and Overview Training
  • CLASS™ Observer Reliability Training
  • CLASS™ & Coaching: Putting CLASS into Practice Training
• CLASS™-based Consultation
• CLASS™ Learning Modules: View (for free or for a fee with certificate) learning modules to assist in understanding CLASS concepts in Minnesota's quality initiatives.
• CLASS™ Video Library: Purchase a subscription to view and download video clips that provide Minnesota-specific examples of strategies and teaching and which measure concepts of quality interactions. For use in CLASS™ coaching by Minnesota Center for Professional Development approved early childhood professional development providers only. For Minnesota residents and organizations only. 
• See more about CLASS™

Environmental Rating Scales (ERS)

The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are observational tools used to assess the quality of the environment in early care settings.

• ERS Observation Services
• ERS Training
• See more about ERS

ATC Program Staff

Amy Susman-Stillman, Principal Investigator

Megan Cox, Project Coordinator

Vicki Hawley, Coordinator

Kerry Gershone, Training Coordinator

Rosemary Frazel, QRS Observer, CLASS anchor and trainer

Mary Beth Settergren, QRS Observer

Kristina Erstad-Sankey, QRS Observer

Related Resources

• Using Authentic Assessments for Statewide Accountability: Issues Related to Reliability and Validity. Panel presentation by Cornelia Taylor Bruckner, Megan Cox, Mary McLean, and Patricia Snyder.
• Borrowing from Peter to Score Paul: Issues in Measurement, Score, Reliability and Replication. Poster presentation by Megan Cox, Katherine McCormick, and Beth Rouse.

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