CTL News
CTL evaluates new Kentucky elementary school arts accountability model
August 4, 2008
For many schools, the idea of building a comprehensive arts education program is somewhat daunting. Many do not have the staff expertise needed to lead this development, and where to begin is, in itself, a challenge. CTL evaluation project director Dennis Horn says the project, which concluded June 30, 2008, "was a real eye-opener for educators in many schools that had no idea what they were doing right, or what they were not doing at all in the arts." For the first time ever, Kentucky elementary schools now have a clearly delineated document showing all the critical components of a comprehensive, standards-based elementary arts program.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) hired CTL to conduct a pilot evaluation of a prototype assessment model to enable elementary schools to determine the effectiveness of their standards-based arts programs. The model uses a standards and indicators tool and a protocol designed to engage multiple school personnel in project oversight. KDE's goal is to develop Kentucky's first ever model delineating the critical elements of a comprehensive elementary arts program based on the Kentucky Program of Studies and Core Content for Assessment.
Twenty Kentucky schools agreed to pilot the new model during the 2007-2008 school year, and to participate in an evaluation process designed to gather input and provide feedback on possible improvements. To substantiate their progress, each school developed an evidence file for each of four standards included in the tool--curriculum, instruction, assessment, and organizational effectiveness.
CTL's evaluation of the pilot included on-site school visits, key staff interviews, review of the school evidence files, and analysis of an online survey by each school. The final report has been presented to the State Board of Education, and recommendations will inform revision of the model for use in all elementary schools, as well as development of a planned middle and high school model. A similar KDE pilot of the middle and high school model is anticipated.
Following are representative quotes from some of the pilot schools::
“This requires a level of examination that we had really not done before. Determining appropriate examples of supporting evidence was difficult at times. Also, realizing that we didn't have specific evidence to back us up really opened our eyes.”
“We accomplished some things in the arts (such as a site-based policy delineating the minimum requirements for arts education) that most likely would not have happened without this process.”
“The tool provided a measuring stick: What does each level of performance look like?”
“This gets us back to what the arts are really all about—creating and performing.”
For more information, contact:
Dennis Horn
v: 502.895.9500 x329