A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Kindergarten children, school teaching and support team, and parents.

Description EISS trains teachers, support staff and parents in: (1) basic knowledge of child growth and development; (2) successful strategies for large and small classroom settings; (3) support for teachers for transforming themselves from directors of instruction to facilitators of learning; and (4) practical tools for ongoing authentic assessment and effective instruction. EISS increases achievement, avoids grade-level retention, and reduces special education placements. A developmentally appropriate curriculum depends upon a well-trained school team which is provided through the EISS program. There are four distinct training components: organization and planning, assessment, strategies, and curriculum. EISS Certified Trainers work with schools to ensure the program is appropriate for its geographic, economic, ethnic, cultural and linguistic settings, as well as meeting State frameworks and mandates, district adoptions and requirements and school level content and objectives. EISS addresses National Educational Goals 1 and 8.

Evidence of Effectiveness Four claims of effectiveness were evaluated using a variety of methods. Results showed that kindergarten students after one year in EISS classes scored significantly better gains in receptive language, visual motor integration and achievement than comparison groups, and showed significantly fewer grade retentions than comparison samples. In a follow-up of a comparison study of at-risk (first quartile) students, an examination of reading scores found that the gains made by kindergartners in the program were maintained through grade three testing.

Requirements Commitment and openness to a developmentally appropriate philosophy and authentic assessment model is needed.

Costs The cost of training for the EISS program is approximately $3,010 for a school with four kindergarten classes. The cost, however, will be reduced after the first year through the EISS training-of-trainers model. Recurring costs will vary depending on staff turnover. EISS materials costs are minimal and usually limited to the first year. They include the EISS Trainers Handbook, Legislative Annual Reports; the EISS Continuum (includes explanatory parent brochures); Parent Involvement Home Activities; Health Survey; and an overview video tape. EISS also provides newsletters and a lending and video library.

Services Staff development training by EISS certified trainers; curricular and technical assistance from EISS project staff; access to eighty demonstration sites throughout California; access to a network of trainers and implementers; and training-of-trainers through the annual five day Trainers Institute.

Contact

Dean Hiser, Orange County Department of Education, 200 Kalmus Drive, P.O. Box 9050, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-9050. (714) 966-4145, FAX (714) 966-4124.

Developmental Funding: California Department of Education.
PEP No. 94-8 (4/1/94)

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[Enriching a Child's Literacy Environment (ECLE)]