2009-2010 SCASS COLLABORATIVE MEETING DATES
|
Collaborative |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| ALSEA |
10/27-28/09 |
Currently Being Planned |
| AMP |
10/27-28/09 |
Currently Being Planned |
| ASES |
10/12-15/09 |
2/9-11/10 |
6/17-19/10 |
| ASR |
9/29-30/09 |
2/9-10/10 |
6/17-18/10 |
| ARTS |
10/2-3/09 |
2/11-12/10 |
5/18-19/10 |
| CAS |
10/13-15/09 |
2/9-10/10 |
6/17-18/10 |
| CTE |
Currently Being Planned |
| EAE |
10/27-28/09 |
Currently Being Planned |
| ECEA |
10/20-22/09 |
2/10-11/10 |
5/18-19/10 |
| ELDA |
10/14-15/09 |
2/11-12/10 |
5/18-19/10 |
| ELL |
10/27-28/09 |
2/9-10/10 |
6/17-18/10 |
| FAST |
10/13-14/09 |
2/9-10/10 |
6/17-18/10 |
| HEAP |
10/26-28/09 |
No Meeting |
5/18-20/10 |
| LIB |
10/27-28/09 |
Currently Being Planned |
| SCIENCE |
10/13-15/09 |
2/10-11/10 |
5/18-19/10 |
| SSACI |
10/13-14/09 |
2/9-10/10 |
5/18-19/10 |
| TEA |
10/28-29/09 |
Currently Being Planned |
| TILSA |
10/14-15/09 |
2/10-11/10 |
6/17-18/10 |
The mission of the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) is to provide leadership, advocacy and service in creating and supporting effective collaborative partnerships through the collective experience and knowledge of state education personnel to develop and implement high standards and valid assessment systems that maximize educational achievement for all children. This mission statement is in alignment with the overall vision and mission of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
Implementation of the SCASS concept began at a National Education Standards Forum in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 27 and 28, 1991, when representatives of states met to discuss cooperative action for assessment challenges faced in their individual state education agencies. Groups in the arts, science, mathematics, workplace readiness, and health decided to explore the possibility of the CCSSO becoming an organizer and convener of content-focused partnerships to address the need for state and local level assessments.
Now well-established in convening these partnerships for over a decade, CCSSO’s SCASS partnerships usually take one of two forms. Consortia partnerships involve groups of states that have determined their collective needs can be met through simple collaborative means and scheduled work sessions. Development partnerships are usually concerned with larger product expectations that typically need a longer timeline and outside contractors to accomplish.
SCASS 08-09 Program Calendar
In the project year July 2007-June 2008, 14 SCASS partnerships are offered by CCSSO with individuals from 47 states represented in one or more groups. These consortia and development partnerships encompass content-specific, subgroup, and technically relevant interests in the following 14 areas:
Arts Education Assessment (Arts)
Accountability Systems and Reporting (ASR)
Assessing Special Education Students (ASES)
Assessment for English Language Learners(ELL)
Comprehensive Assessment System for ESEA Title I (CAS)
Comprehensive Social Studies Assessment (CSSAP)
Early Childhood Education Assessment (ECEA)
English Language Development Assessment (ELDA)
Formative Assessment for Students and Teachers (FAST)
Health Education Assessment Program (HEAP)
Science Education Assessment (Science)
Surveys of the Enacted Curriculum (SEC)
Technical Issues in Large-Scale Assessment (TILSA)
SCASS participation provides a collaborative environment for examining the current needs and issues surrounding the area(s) of focus, determining the products and goals of the project, summarizing recent research, analyzing best practice, examining technical issues, and/or providing guidance on federal legislation. Each represents self-identified groups of states who have formed self-sustaining partnerships under the direction of the CCSSO’s director of assessments.
Program specialists from the state education agencies continue to be the principal representatives in each of the SCASS partnerships with supplemental representatives from districts, federal agencies, higher education, research, and private sector consultants. Additionally, each of these partnerships continues to allow state education agencies to draw from a greater pool of experience not easily available when a state confronts the same challenge alone. Each also allows a larger scale operation that supports a better collegial atmosphere and the deployment of economic resources in a more efficient way.
Every two years SCASS members gather for MegaSCASS to discuss common challenges and strategies from their respective work and to consider key topics in education standards and assessment. The goal of the MegaSCASS is to promote across this rich and diverse community of educators:
- sharing ideas and information;
- engaging in professional and leadership development; and
- exploring and enhancing connections across their projects.
The most recent MegaSCASS was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3-4, 2007. Please go to the MegaSCASS 2007 website for program information, schedule, readings and resources, and much more.
SCASS partnerships are supported by the states through a participation fee and, in some cases, grants and funds from national organizations and federal agencies. Participation fees vary from project to project and are established by the member states.
Chiefline
