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State-Wide Consortium Discusses Diagnostic Assessment Tools and Best Practices at ACES Thomas Edison Middle School

March 8th, 2019


Curriculum Associates' Elizabeth Bassford(North Haven, CT. March 8, 2019) With a goal of learning more about educational products and sharing best practices, the Connecticut Consortium of I-Ready® Diagnostics and Ready® Common Core Users held their first gathering in 2019 at the ACES Thomas Edison Middle School located in Meriden this morning.  The Consortium, which began two years ago and meets twice a year, attracted more than 45 school administrators, educators and staff members from 20 school districts around Connecticut.  Created two years ago, ACES Curriculum Coordinators, Dr. Anne Pember and Joanna Dorne developed and now lead the Consortium.

“We were very disappointed with another assessment tool and began using the Curriculum Associates I-Ready Diagnostic and Ready Common Core products about five years ago and are extremely satisfied with them and the progress we saw students making,” said Pember. “In the fall of 2017, we formed the Consortium because we felt there was value in communicating with districts that were using the same resources we were and to figure out best practices.  We also have found that this is a more effective way for professional development.”

The Curriculum Associates’ assessment and products are designed to help students ranging in ages from three to 18 who are in kindergarten to 12th grade. While there are fees for each of the modules, the Consortium is free to join and there is no fee to attend the bi-annual meetings.

“One of the main reasons we chose these array of products is that they are extremely adaptable and meet a student’s capability where they are currently performing in reading or mathematics.  This ensures we are not giving them assignments and tests too difficult by meeting them at their level. Then, we can track them as they progress,” said Dorne. “All the tools are based on extensive data. At these meetings, we discuss the raw data and then show how the analysis that results from the research.”

While there are tools for reading, the primary use is to evaluate and aid children in math based on culturally responsive mathematics teaching (CRMT).  This concept premise is creating a learning environment focused on mathematical sense so each student feels valued for who they are, for their ways of engaging in mathematical reasoning, and for their contributions to the collective success of those within the classroom community.

The Consortium originally conducted full-day sessions but now have transformed into two-hour group presentations and discussions. The attendees come from all over the Nutmeg State and selected because they are already using the Curriculum Associates products or want to know more about the tools and diagnostic assessment tools available. Besides an outstanding facility that can comfortably accommodate large groups that require a wide array of presentation technology, TEMS is centrally located allowing more people to attend.

TEMS is an interdistrict magnet school where grades 6 – 8 students focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Its mission is to empower teachers and students to use technology effectively in order to become knowledgeable, capable, and ethical digital citizens. By developing strong digital and 21st century skills within the school environment, teachers and students will be ready to work with the global environment in a safe and comfortable way.


About ACES:

Area Cooperative Educational Service’s (ACES) is to transform lives through education, innovation, and leadership. One of six Connecticut regional educational service centers, ACES is the regional educational services center for the twenty-five communities in New Haven and is both a school district and a non-profit services agency. ACES serves 2,300 students from fifty-seven communities throughout Connecticut at its three magnet schools and nine special education schools. ACES service divisions include international educational programs and services, technology, transportation, translation, behavior services and autism programs, extension therapy services (occupational and physical therapy), assistive technology, collaborative programs, professional development, human resources and financial services, and ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically challenged adults. ACES also runs the Open Choice program for New Haven County as well as a magnet school parent choice program for its Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School and Thomas Edison Middle School. Additionally, ACES runs the Middlesex County Early Head Start Partnership program. For additional information, go to www.aces.org.

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