Resources | FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who created the DRDP-SR© assessment instrument?
A: The California Department of Education (CDE), in collaboration with the WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies and UC Berkeley-BEAR Center.
Q: What grade level does the DRDP-SR assess?
A: The intended target populations are transitional and traditional kindergarten students.
A: Why was the DRDP-SR created?
Q: The DRDP-SR was created with four primary purposes
- Psychometric measurement of children’s development in key domains of school readiness
- Support transition between preschool and TK, and between TK and K
- Research tool
- Professional development tool for teachers
Q: What types of school readiness does the DRDP-SR assess?
A: The DRDP-SR assesses children’s development in key domains of school readiness
- English Language Development
- Self & Social Development
- Self-regulation
- Language and Literacy Development
- Mathematical Development
Q: Is a sample of the DRDP-SR available for viewing?
A: Yes. The DRDP-SR assessment instrument is available on the DRDP-SR© web page of this Web site.
Q: How will the results from the DRDP-SR be used at the classroom, LEA and state levels?
A: At the classroom and LEA level, teachers and administrators use the DRDP-SR to determine the extent to which students are achieving the desired results so that teachers may differentiate their instruction and target individual or groups of student to improve results in particular domains of school readiness. At the state level, educators use the desired results system to identify successes and areas for improvement so that the CDE can provide support and technical assistance to increase transitional and traditional kindergarten program quality.
Q: When will the DRDP-SR be ready for use?
A: The DRDP-SR is ready to use in the 2012-13 school year.
Q: What is the DRDPtech™?
A: The DRDPtech is an online data entry system for the DRDP-SR so teachers may compile information about students in their classes and print out summary reports on individuals and groups of students. The data is stored on a hosted website. Administrators may also print out summary reports for all children or groups of students.
Q: When will the DRDPtech be ready for use?
A: The DRDPtech application for the DRDP-SR is ready to use in the 2012-13 school year.
Q: What technical assistance is available for teachers and administrators?
A: There will be five primary methods of training and technical assistance
- Online training modules
- Online tutorials (what DRDP is, how to rate the DRDP) is available beginning June 2012.
- Toolkit (documentation aids, mini-measures, navigation map, classroom posters) is available beginning May 2012.
- Multi-session webinar to support teachers’ implementation will be offered in August, September and October 2012 and the webinars will be archived for future review.
- In-person training available as scheduled through the DRDP-SR website at www.drdpsr.org
Where can they go for more information?
Q: Is the DRDP-SR aligned to the Preschool Learning Foundations, the California Kindergarten Content Standards and the Common Core Standards?
A: Yes. The CDE, WestEd and UC BEAR worked in concert to ensure the development of the DRDP-SR was strongly aligned to existing and future state frameworks and assessments.
Q: Will the results from the DRDP-SR be integrated into CALPADS?
A: Yes. The CDE is using Race To The Top – Early Learning Challenge funds to integrate the DRDP-SR into CALPADS in time for the 2013-14 school year.
Q: How long does it take to complete a DRDP-SR assessment for one student?
A: It depends. As teachers become more familiar with the assessment and observe more individual students, their proficiency will become increasingly efficient. In the development field study, teachers reported the tool was user friendly and expressed that the instrument got easier to complete as they went along.
Q: How often is this assessment administered?
A: Teachers observe students as they participate in routine classroom activities and complete the DRDP-SR for each child within the first eight weeks of school. The assessment can be repeated again in the spring in order to gauge students’ progress throughout the year and support their transition to the next grade level.
Q: For students with IEPs, what is the requirement for reporting DRDP-SR student results into DRDP access?
A: The DRDP-SR can be used at kindergarten entry for all children. There is no requirement for reporting DRDP-SR results in DRDP access.
Q: For teachers and administrators: Why should I use this assessment instrument?
A: The DRDP-SR was developed so that in the process of using the instrument teachers learn:
- A valid and reliable method for observing, documenting, and reflecting on the learning, development, and progress of all students in their classrooms. All teachers are looking at students’ progress with a common framework; facilitates conversations between teachers.
- Detailed developmental information about each child based on specific research on child development. The DRDP-SR is a developmentally-appropriate assessment that provides richer and more accurate information about student’s developmental progress.
- How to anticipate what comes next for children developmentally because the DRDP-SR fits with what teachers are already doing and supports real-time scaffolding.
- How to integrate information from other required assessments to inform their teaching.
For more information
General questions: California Department of Education, Child Development Division, Carolyn Loveridge, cloveridge@cde.ca.gov, (916) 319-0318
Implementation support: Melinda Brookshire, mbrooks@wested.org, (805) 484-8027
Development: Kerry Kriener-Althen, kkriene@wested.org, (415) 289-2338
DRDPtech©: WestEd, 1-800-770-6339
Sources
Children Now
Santa Clara County Partnership for School Readiness
University of California Berkeley – BEAR Center
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies