A variety of tools and services are currently available through the SEC, and others are in development. States and/or districts that have specific needs should contact Rolf Blank at CCSSO to discuss how SEC might assist them. Six SEC-related tools and services are currently in place. More information can be found in Joining the Collaborative.

1. The Survey

The Surveys of Enacted Curriculum are available for K-12 teachers of mathematics, science, and English Language Arts. Major sections of the survey include

• content of instruction (by topic and student expectation)
• instructional practices
• teacher preparation
• teacher expectations and beliefs

The survey is usually administered to all teachers in a school by subject at approximately the same time, and can be completed either as a web-based document (recommended) or in a paper version. While some content areas may take longer, the average time for completing the survey is 90 minutes.

2. Alignment Content Analysis of Standards and Assessments

State standards and assessment items are content coded by teams of four content specialists. Each team codes state standards and assessments utilizing SEC method/procedures that describe a two-dimensional content matrix – the same content matrix used in the teacher survey. The products of the content coding are content maps and statistical analysis that can be utilized for alignment studies of instruction, standards, and assessments.

3. Survey Reports

Survey results are reported by group using up to 25 pre-designed charts for each subject and grade level and can be disaggregated by student/teacher characteristics. These charts are available online to project leaders and participants. Teachers may also access their individual data once the survey has been completed.

The results of content coding are reported through content maps, scales, and item profiles reported by the SEConline Web system. School leadership teams, curriculum specialists, administrators, and policymakers can use the survey data reports to track effects of initiatives on classrooms or identify areas of improvement efforts. The CCSSO/WCER analysis and report methods include analysis of alignment of instruction with state or local assessment instruments. Examples of the reports can be found in How are the Data Reported?.

Districts and schools also have access to the raw data for analysis. Many SEC users conduct their own analysis of SEC data. Utilizing their own data analysis software programs, they are able to import the SEC data and use it in conjunction with their own local data to conduct investigations and explore questions about teaching and learning at the local level.

4. Workshops

SEC can provide a number of workshops customized for different audiences to assist state and local coordinators in engaging administrators and teachers in the SEC process. School and district staff may desire help in analyzing and interpreting data, understanding results, identifying possible weaknesses and strengths — and, then, planning for how data can be used to make decisions about strategies for improving instruction and curriculum. CCSSO arranges with member states to provide one or two expert SEC Professional Development leaders for a workshop, with date and location selected by the state. CCSSO can also provide train-the-trainer workshops to prepare local staff or other leaders to provide survey orientations or workshops on data analysis and/or the use of SEC data. Workshops vary in length from one hour to multiple days.

5. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is available in all aspects of SEC from planning and implementation to orienting, training, and data analysis. Many districts and local SEC users frequently work with SEC staff to develop the message to participants, to analyze the data results and to facilitate discussion among educators using the data.

6. A SEC Collaborative of State Leaders

The SEC Collaborative consists of state and district educational leaders from across the U.S. in mathematics, science, and English language arts/reading. Currently, the Collaborative includes leaders from over 18 states and districts. Membership in the SEC Collaborative is open to all states and districts and can begin at any time. The SEC Collaborative has three major goals:

• to increase the members’ knowledge base about Survey of Enacted Curriculum tools
• to share ideas and strategies for applying SEC to educational issues in states
• to provide technical assistance and training to leaders for projects in states

Each of the state or district members are engaged with a SEC project or initiative and participate in SEC Collaborative meetings held twice a year. Participants attending these meetings receive technical assistance and support on the development and implementation of their state or local SEC projects, obtain additional resources, share expertise, and provide guidance to the SEC leadership. Collaborative members may also engage in content analysis workshops where state standards and/or state assessment items are coded for content and student expectations. These workshops are usually held twice a year.

Costs of Tools and Services

For additional information, contact Carlise Smith by email carlises@ccsso.org, or phone, (202) 336-7066.