Topical COS Professional Development Activities

These activities focus on aspects of the COS Process providers frequently need additional training and support. The COS Process Online Module prepares Part C and Part B, Section 619 staff to use the COS process to describe how children are doing on the three child outcomes.

Before You Begin

These materials are not "stand-alone" training activities. Participants must first complete the COS Process Online Module for neccesary context.
Prior to selecting an activity, PD staff must ensure content is consistent with the state's COS policies and procedures, and adapt if necessary (for example, adding information about the state's COS policies and procedures).
ECTA staff can provide technical assistance to PD staff on how to use these materials, or to individualize training for specific audiences or formats.

COS Topics

Each topic includes activities, instructions, and handouts that you can use to enhance early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) practitioners' understanding of a specific aspect of the COS process. Some activities are applicable to an EI or ECSE audience, and some are applicable to both. Most activities can be adapted to present to both audiences simultaneously.

PD activities are available for following topics:

General COS Activities: Background information for those new to child outcomes measurement or the Child Outcomes Summary (COS) Process.
Assessing Functional Skills and Age Anchoring: Gathering and Age Anchoring Information About Child Functioning in everyday settings and across daily activities and routines by comparing a child's skills and behaviors to age-expected development.
COS Ratings: Understanding and applying the COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria.

General COS Activities

General COS Activities
Activity Title	Learning Objective	EI, ECSE or Both	Instructions, Handouts, and Supplemental Resources
Why Collect Child Outcomes Data?	Identify the purpose and uses of child outcomes measurement.	Both	Why Collect Outcomes Data? (Streaming) Why Collect Outcomes Data? Pop Quiz: Child Outcomes Measurement (Section 1) Pop Quiz: Child Outcomes Measurement Answer Key
Understanding the Three Child Outcomes	Identify the content of the three child outcomes. Identify the difference between functional outcomes and discrete (or isolated) skills.	Both	Outcomes Step-by-Step (video available to stream or download) Understanding the Three Child Outcomes (Streaming) Understanding the Three Child Outcomes Understanding Functional Skills: Background for the COS Process Outcomes Jeopardy! Outcomes Jeopardy! Worksheet Outcomes Jeopardy! Answer Key
Assessing the Three Child Outcomes	Identify the differences between the evaluation process for eligibility purposes and functional assessment of the three outcome areas for program planning and accountability purposes. Identify how formal assessment instruments can be used in the context of assessing child outcomes.	Both	Assessing the Three Child Outcomes (Streaming) Assessing the Three Child Outcomes Activity: Crosswalk Review

Assessing Functional Skills

Assessing Functional Skills
Activity Title	Learning Objective	EI, ECSE or Both	Instructions, Handouts, and Supplemental Resources
Using Assessment Data in the COS Process: Jack's Narrative	Apply information from assessment of skills to the COS process, including identifying assessment information that is valuable to the process and information that is still needed about the child's functioning in an outcome area. Activity time: 30 minutes	EI	Facilitator Guide Activity Sheet
What are Functional Skills and Behaviors?	Identify the difference between isolated (discrete) skills and functional skills to better understand and assess children's every day functioning. Activity time: 30 minutes	Both	Activity Instructions Developmental Progressions and the Child Outcome Summary (COS) Process Understanding Functional Skills: Background for the COS Process Activity Sheet
COS-PS: Identifying Functional Skills and Aligning them to the Three Child Outcomes	Under Select a Scenario, participants can choose Andrew (31 months) or Euriah (45 months), then practice identifying functional skills, aligning them to one of the Three Child Outcomes, and recieve feedback. Activity time: 20–35 minutes	Both	COS Practice Scenarios (COS-PS)
Child Outcomes Instrument Crosswalks	Review assessment tools and extract meaningful information from them for each of the three child outcomes. Activity time: 30 minutes	Both	Breadth of the Three Child Outcomes Activity: Crosswalk Review Instrument Crosswalks
Authentic Assessment: Table Talk	Examine your program's current practices related to authentic assessment. Activity time: 30 minutes	Both	Instructions Authentic Child Assessment Practices Checklist Worksheet

Age Anchoring

Age Anchoring
Activity Title	Learning Objective	EI, ECSE or Both	Instructions, Handouts, and Supplemental Resources
Age Anchoring Guidance for Determining Child Outcomes Summary (COS) Ratings	Obtain answers to commonly asked questions about age anchoring children's functional skills for the COS process and have access to examples of how the guidance applies in practice.	Both	Age Anchoring Guidance for Determining Child Outcomes Summary (COS) Ratings
Understanding Age-Expected Skills and Behaviors	Age anchor skills and behaviors for a 30-month old child using a child development tool. Activity time: 30 minutes	EI	Instructions Child Development Resources and Early Learning Resources Worksheet
COS-PS: Age Anchoring Skills and Outcomes	Under Select a Scenario, participants can choose Andrew (31 months) or Euriah (45 months), then practice age anchoring skills as AE, IF, and F and receive feedback. Activity time: 15–30 minutes	Both	COS Practice Scenarios (COS-PS)
Age Anchoring: Tyler's (13 months)	Age anchor a 13-month-old child's skills and behaviors in the three outcome areas using video observations and age anchoring tools and resources. Activity time: 20 minutes	EI	Activity Instructions Tyler at 13 Months Developmental Progressions and the Child Outcomes Summary Process 7-Point Rating Scale Child Development Resources and Early Learning Resources

COS Ratings

COS Ratings
Activity Title	Learning Objective	EI, ECSE or Both	Instructions, Handouts, and Supplemental Resources
Who Wants to be a 7-Point Rating Scale Millionaire?	Demonstrate understanding of the COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria, including the definitions of age-expected, immediate foundational and foundational skills. Activity time: 30 minutes	Both	COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria Developmental Progressions and the Child Outcome Summary (COS) Process Activity Instructions PowerPoint Presentation
7-point Rating Scale Jeopardy!	Understanding the COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria. Activity time: 15 minutes	Both	COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria Activity Instructions Activity Answer Key PowerPoint Presentation Blank Score Sheet
7-Point Rating Scale Face-Off	Identify the rating on the COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria that describe written examples of children's functioning. Activity time: 30 minutes	EI	COS Definitions: 7-Point Rating Scale Criteria Activity Instructions Answer Sheet Activity Sheet
COS-PS: Using the Decision Tree for Summary Rating Discussions to Determine a COS Rating	Choose COS Ratings Practice for Andrew (31 months) or Euriah (45 months), determine a rating for each of the Three Child Outcomes, and recieve feedback. Activity time: 20–40 minutes	Both	COS Practice Scenarios (COS-PS) COS Decision Tree for Summary Rating Discussions
Small Group COS Process Practice Activity (or Make Your Own COS Case Study)	Practice team rating discussions based on information about actual children provided by other participants. Activity time: 40–60 minutes	Both	Activity Instructions Child Outcomes Summary Form COS Decision Tree for Summary Rating Discussions COS Process Discussion Prompts Individual State COS form (if appropriate)