SmartTeach
Smart TEACH™
SmartTeach™ (formerly known as TS GOLD® by Teaching Strategies) is an authentic, ongoing observational system used by teachers for assessing children at early childhood sites. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) confirms ongoing assessment of all children receiving public funds by three checkpoints throughout the year. Each site’s performance profile includes information on the proportion of publicly-funded children for whom checkpoints were completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do checkpoints occur?
LDOE requires sites to complete assessments by checkpoint dates. Checkpoints occur three times annually: October 31st (Fall), February 28th (Winter), and May 31st (Spring).
What are the keys to success with SmartTeach™?
Successful implementation of SmartTeach™ requires:
- Training: Both teachers and leaders at the site are aware of requirements, how to use the tool appropriately, and their associated responsibilities.
- Data Management: Ensuring data in the license is accurate, including:
- All current teachers have accounts linked to your site and any teachers no longer employed at the site have accounts deleted
- All classrooms at the site are included in the license, and any classrooms no longer open (including those from the previous academic year) have been deleted
- Class rosters are accurate, with any currently enrolled children reflected in the license and assigned to the appropriate room, and any disenrolled children archived
- Time Management: Ensuring that child-level documentation is entered regularly and consistently to avoid a backlog as checkpoints approach.
What do you need to do to get set up?
To get prepared for the school year:
- Archive all children no longer enrolled at your site.
- Delete accounts for any and all teachers/administrators no longer employed at your site.
- Create accounts for any new teachers employed at your site.
- Create profiles for any new children enrolled at your site.
- Ensure all children are assigned to the appropriate classrooms.
- Delete any old classrooms that are no longer operational.
A checklist form outlining these steps (with linked instructions) is available here.
Where can I find additional SmartTeach™ resources?
Further NOEEN resources including documentation strategies, how-to guides for teachers, and checklists can be found here.
Teachstone maintains a SmartTeach™ Support Portal which has additional information and resources.
Educators with questions should make inquiries to their site administrators. If administrators are unable to find answers, they may direct SmartTeach™ questions to smartteach@noeen.org.
For sites reaching out to resolve a duplicate error message when creating child-level records or teacher accounts, please fill out this form.
