CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TEACHSTONE^®

Improving Teacher-Child Interactions in California 

Teachstone is honored to partner with the California Department of Education (CDE) in its mission to support continuous quality improvement and responsive teacher-child interactions in California State Preschool Programs (CSPP). Like California, we know that meaningful and nurturing interactions are necessary for all children, especially those in marginalized communities. Our Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) 2nd Edition considers all educators, children, and learning environments. Our goal is to support teachers in improving their skills so that they and the children in their care feel nurtured, safe, and successful. Learn more about the power of CLASS^® below.

In 2008, the CLASS measurement tool was created to observe and measure teacher-child interactions in the field. Since then, the educational landscape has changed significantly. As a result, in 2022, Teachstone created CLASS 2nd Edition. The enhancements to the entire CLASS Measurement Suite focus on equity, increased access, and measuring for impact. These improvements were implemented while building on and preserving the foundational concepts that make CLASS the standard for measuring and improving classroom interactions. One key change was the evolution of the language used in CLASS dimensions, indicators, and behavioral markers. This adaptation ensures the tool is applicable across diverse settings and promotes consistent scoring across observers.

CLASS Environment™ is a comprehensive program focusing on the elements of infant-toddler and pre-K/K learning environments. Measuring the elements that matter most—such as classroom arrangements, displays, and materials—empowers you to take steps to improve and results in more effective daily teacher-child interactions. CLASS Environment requires completing the following self-paced, online courses based on age-level specifications: CLASS Environment Foundations (.2 CEUs) and CLASS Environment within a CLASS Observation (.3 CEUs).

CLASS Environment is used alongside the CLASS observation tool, which reduces observation time and strengthens opportunities for efficiency and impact. The results lead to easy remedies and intentional guidance that support diverse settings and can be easily integrated into a continuous quality improvement system. 

Please explore the CLASS Environment resources below:

Equity in education ensures that all children have the resources they need to feel safe, seen, and supported. Emotionally enriching relationships engage learners in a way that positively affects their developmental progress. All children, including those with varied learning and physical abilities, dual language learners (DLLs), or facing other societal constraints, deserve a high-quality educational experience.

CLASS Observers must continually improve their skills to consistently provide reliable observations. Teachstone has created several resources to ensure observers have everything they need to conduct observations that support educators in enhancing meaningful interactions with the children in their care. Explore the support resources below.