At Celebree School, we provide every child in our care with the highest quality education, helping set the foundation for lifelong success. In this blog, we’ll explain the tools and systems we use at our preschool centers to measure and ensure the quality of teaching and learning. We’ll also answer the top questions caregivers often have about how we track and support your child’s growth.
What do “CLASS scores” mean at Celebree School?
CLASS®, which stands for Classroom Assessment Scoring System, is a nationally used tool to observe and measure teacher and child interactions in the classroom. CLASS® scores matter because they directly reflect the quality of teacher and child interactions, which really is the foundation for children’s learning and development. Scores correlate with the level of warmth, responsiveness, and instructional support teachers offer their students. These types of interactions are the single biggest driver of better language and literacy growth, stronger social-emotional skills, and a greater readiness for kindergarten. High CLASS® scores mean teachers are creating emotionally supportive, organized, and engaging environments that help children thrive.
What does CLASS® measure?
CLASS® measures what matters most: how teachers engage with children. It doesn’t look at lesson plans, materials, or curriculum. Instead, it focuses on how teachers connect, communicate, and support children throughout the day. CLASS® measures emotional support, or how well teachers help children feel safe, respected, and valued. It measures classroom organization and how well teachers manage behaviors, time, and attention to maximize learning. Lastly, CLASS® measures instructional support or how teachers promote thinking, problem-solving, and language development. Each of these dimensions is rated on a seven-point scale and comes together to give a snapshot of how effectively a teacher supports each child’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive growth.
How do you track my child’s growth?
At Celebree School, we track each child’s growth through Teaching Strategies GOLD. Teaching Strategies is a globally recognized preschool curriculum and assessment tool that uses ongoing and authentic observations to understand each child’s unique development. Our teachers collect evidence of learning throughout everyday classroom moments. These observations are entered into GOLD as documentation and aligned with specific objectives for development and learning. Teachers review the collected evidence and assign a progression level, which shows them where that student is right now in their development. Four times a year, teachers will review and finalize all documentation and submit data for each student in their care. Teachers use this information to individualize instruction, plan small groups, and communicate progress to families.
What’s the goal?
The goal for teachers when using Teaching Strategies GOLD is to understand each child as a whole learner. This means getting a clear picture of where each child is socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Our teachers want to see the whole child, not just a data point. With this goal in mind, Celebree School teachers can teach intentionally based on real documentation that shows what each child is ready for next and celebrate their growth and progress. GOLD also helps our teachers drive improvement of quality in the classroom and strengthen family partnerships by inviting collaboration and extended learning at home.
At Celebree School, our commitment to quality goes beyond curriculum. We strive for quality in our meaningful interactions, intentional teaching, and ongoing support that help our children thrive. By using tools like CLASS® and Teaching Strategies GOLD, we ensure that every child receives the guidance and attention they need to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
If you’re curious to see how Celebree School’s high-quality classrooms can support your child’s development, schedule a visit at a Celebree School near you today and experience the difference for yourself.