Approved Assessors

Great Start to Quality offers those individuals who work with early childhood programs and providers in Michigan opportunities to be directly involved.

Approved Assessors are able to conduct the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) or the Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment (SEL PQA) for those working towards achieving the Demonstrating Quality level in Great Start to Quality.

Approved Assessor

To be eligible to use an Approved Assessor, the program must complete the accreditation process with either NAEYC or NAFCC or have an agreement (grant-funded or otherwise) for implementation of a program whose operation is overseen by an external partner that supports program quality, such as:

• Great Start Readiness Programs
• Early Head Start
• Head Start
• 21st Century Learning Community Centers
• Local Pre-K Programs

In order to be a Great Start to Quality Approved Assessor you must have all of the following: 

• Trained by Teachstone Affiliate Trainer in the appropriate version of the CLASS and/or trained by Weikart for the SEL PQA .
• Meet reliability as defined by Teachstone in the appropriate version of the CLASS tool annually and Weikart for the SEL PQA every two years.
• Not have supervisory responsibility for the program, classroom or staff that is being assessed (i.e. Director).
• Be free of conflict of interest according to a list of criteria.
• Complete the Great Start to Quality Approved Assessor Certification Process, which includes an orientation webinar and follow-up questionnaire. The questionnaire follows the webinar session.

After all documentation and verification is received and completed, the Approved Assessor will receive a certificate via email that designates them as an Approved Assessor for the appropriate observation tool. Observations scores are input into the MiRegistry system therefore approved trainers must have an individual account in MiRegistry and be trained on the process.

While GSQ is using the 2008 version of the CLASS Pre-K, K-3 tools, Approved Assessors may be trained and reliable in either the 2008 version or the Pre-K-3 CLASS 2nd Edition tool.

Approved Assessor Scores

• Scores must be input within 30 days of assignment
• A copy of the score sheets must be uploaded in the system
• Only scores from the current school year can be used
• If a program submits for Validation and On-Site Observation on or before June 30, they must use the prior year’s scores. 
• If a program submits for Validation and On-Site Observation on or after July 1, they must use the next year’s scores.
• Approved Assessor scores are subject to Internal Review.
• A minimum of 3 CLASS cycles per assigned group/classroom must be conducted for GSQ