CLASS® Observations & Accountability

NOEEN, with support from Agenda, is responsible for the evaluation of all early childhood classrooms at sites within their network. To be eligible for CLASS^® observations for the academic year, sites must meet the following requirements:

• LA4/NSECD sites must be open with publicly-funded children allocated by October 1
• Type III Providers must have a valid license by October 1
• FCCs must be registered by October 1 and enter Academic Approval no later than November 15

CLASS^® scores provide valuable information to every member of the early childhood community:

• Families: Families use CLASS^® scores to understand program quality when choosing a center or school. A center’s overall rating also impacts the value of a family’s School Readiness Tax Credit.
• Teachers: Teachers get feedback on their strengths and opportunities for further improvement, and they can see their progress over time. CLASS^® scores, in combination with workshops and coaching, can give teachers a roadmap for improvement.
• Program Leaders and Owners: CLASS^® scores can give leaders information about their teachers’ professional development needs and track improvement over time. CLASS^® scores can also be high-stakes for programs because they determine eligibility for the allocation of seats, tax credits, coaching and more. 
• Community Networks: Community networks, including NOEEN, are also rated by the state on the basis of their site’s CLASS^® scores. NOEEN also uses CLASS^® scores to inform what types of professional development to offer.

Local CLASS^® observations are completed primarily by NOEEN contracted certified observers, though some programs use their own certified staff to complete observations in collaboration with NOEEN. Observers have to meet rigorous criteria, including being certified by Teachstone, engaging in regular “double codes” to ensure consistency in scoring among observers, and engaging in regular professional development and communities of practice. Third-party observations are completed by the ULL Picard Center for Early Childhood.

All classrooms must be observed by NOEEN once per semester. Third party observations through Picard are expected to happen for at least 50% of classrooms at each site each year, and include at least one per age level (Pre-K, Toddler, Infant). Observation windows for local observations are determined by NOEEN, although changes may occur due to closures, illnesses, or schedule changes. All observations for the semester must be completed and results reported to the LDOE by December 15th for the Fall semester and May 15th for the Spring semester. Please see this resource for more information about observation attempts and availability.

This resource provides more information about what to expect from a Picard observation, including the purpose of observations, the scheduling process, and the observer protocol.

Providers submit a variety of metrics when submitting CLASS^® room configurations for local observations in August. They are then able to provide updates and corrections during specified windows throughout the year. Visit the Performance Profiles page to learn more.

Visit NOEEN’s CLASS® Resources drive for a variety of helpful documents and tools. You can also find information on LDOE’s website, specifically under the CLASS® Observations, Performance Profiles, Director’s Toolbox, and CLASS^® Classroom Video Library tabs. Additionally, please see score summary sheets, calibration videos, and other reports on the LDOE EC Portal.

CLASS^® observations also let stakeholders know when the classroom’s climate is so negative that it represents a potential threat to the emotional or physical safety of the children.  NOEEN CLASS^® Observers are required to report High Negative Climate scores of 3 or higher during any cycle of the observation, as well as any incidents of child abuse or neglect, and any major concerns about the environment of the site during their visit to NOEEN administration and, when appropriate, the Department of Children and Family Services within 24 hours. Note that high levels of Negative Climate can be caused by teacher behaviors such as irritability, anger, use of a harsh voice, yelling, threats, physical actions/punishment, sarcasm, teasing, and humiliation, and child behaviors such as intense peer aggression, escalating frustration, and escalating negativity.

LDOE and NOEEN work together to address every incident of high negative climate, which includes the development and implementation of an improvement plan. More information about this can be found here.