Early Childhood Outcomes

What's Required

State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicator 7 reports the percent of preschool children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who demonstrate improved:      
  • Positive social-emotional skills (including social relationships); 
  • Acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication and early literacy); and  
  • Use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs.
Based upon the specifics designated within indicator 7 and the requirements to report data for all local education agencies (LEAs), the state will use the Early Childhood Outcome Center’s (ECO) Childhood Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) model as a method for developing an Early Childhood Outcomes Measurement System. The COSF is a template which allows LEA staff to record multiple sources of assessment information regarding a student’s level of functioning in each of the prescribed outcome areas. The form also serves as a template for converting individualized assessment data into a consistent system for statewide reporting.

All districts are required to report data into the SPP 7 application. The District Certifier is responsible for ensuring that the data are accurate and therefore, must be knowledgeable of the process. The District Data Entry agent and District Certifier will enter data collectively when necessary. The District Certifier will certify the data once it is entered and completed. Every district must have a complete and certified status regardless of whether the district has data to enter. 


What We Do

SPP Indicator 7: Early Childhood Outcomes
Entry and Exit
Defining Entry and Exit 
Reporting Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) requires assessing a student, age three, four or five, at two points in time, “entry” and “exit.” School personnel will use the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) to collect the data and the web-based State Performance Plan Indicator 7 (SPP 7) application to submit ECO data to the State. A copy of the COSF should be retained in an accessible location for the purposes of this data collection. It is recommended that a copy be placed in the child’s special education eligibility folder. 


Entry Data Collection and Submission 
The following Entry definitions apply to: 
1. A new student. Summarize assessment data related to child and record the data on the COSF within 30 school days after a child, age three, four or five, has been found eligible and placed in the Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities Program (PPCD). 
2. A transfer student from another district. Summarize assessment data related to child and record the data on the COSF within 30 school days after a child, age three, four or five, has transferred into Special Education from another district. 

Note: For a transfer student who has existing Entry Data and moves between campuses in the same district, “new” Entry Data are not required to be reported on the student by the receiving campus. 

3. A student with an auditory and/or visual impairment enrolled in a school receiving special education services prior to age three. Upon the child’s enrollment in a PPCD program at age three, an assessment team will complete the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) using current assessment data reflecting the child’s current functioning levels as he/she prepares to enter the PPCD program. The assessment date used will be the date the assessment team meets and completes the COSF. 

Submission to the State: Entry Data must be submitted in the SPP 7 online TEASE application upon completion of Entry Data. 

Exit Data Collection and Submission 
Exit data are reported for a child with Entry Data who has been in the PPCD program at least six months. Summarize assessment data related to child and record the data on the COSF no earlier than 30 school days before a child, age three, four or five, has: 
• aged out of the PPCD program 
• been dismissed from special education by the ARDC 

If a 5-year-old child turns six after September 1 of the current school year and the ARDC has determined the child will continue receiving special education services in the PPCD program, then the assessment must be conducted and results recorded on the COSF no earlier than 30 school days (not calendar days) before the child exits the program, which may be at the end of the school year. 

If a child turns six after the end of the school year, but before September 1 of the subsequent school year, then assessments are conducted and summarized, progress data on the three outcomes are recorded on the COSF and entered into the online application during the last 30 school days (not calendar days) of the regular school year. 

Submission to the State: Exit Data must be submitted in the SPP 7 online TEASE application by the close of the business day on August 12. 
Exit data are not reported for students with entry data who: 
• left prior to six months in the program 
• were in the program at least six months and moved out of the district before meeting one of the two criteria for Exit data collection.