School districts will administer the Qualls Early Learning Inventory (QELI), formerly known as the Iowa Early Learning Inventory (IELI), to all entering kindergarten students during late August and early September 2005 to meet the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 6-15-404(e). The QELI is in a checklist format that helps teachers observe and record information about cognitive knowledge and classroom behaviors in six key areas: general knowledge, oral communication, written language, math concepts, work habits, and attentive behavior. The inventory was developed to be appropriate for all students, including those students with special needs and linguistic backgrounds, other than standard English.
In order to strengthen the teacher-to-teacher and student-to-student uniformity in administering the inventory, a committee of educators assisted in the development of the specific written QELI Guidelines and response rubric. Also, to assist teachers in preparing for the QELI, a tool has been developed to better complete the observation. The LINK for Teachers and the LINK for Parents are attached. Teachers are asked to provide a copy to parents to better prepare the kindergarten child for school. The LINK for Teachers will assist in correlating many state tools currently being utilized within the state. The LINK for Teachers is also located on the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) website at http://arkedu.k12.ar.us. Under "ADE Quick Links", select "Curriculum", then select "Resource Materials". Scroll down to the bold heading, "Helpful Internet Sites and Additional Resources" and select "KRIC Link for Teachers". The LINK for Parents will also be located on the ADE website under the heading, "Parents." Select "Help for Parents", then select "KRIC Link for Parents".
The statewide 2004-2005 IELI data results are attached. Schools are encouraged to review and compare the individual data to the state?s results. The individual school data are recommended to assist in curriculum planning and transitioning the Pre-Kindergarten student to Kindergarten. A copy of the April 8, 2005 videoconference PowerPoint is also attached.
Materials for the QELI should arrive in districts the week of August 15, 2005. Schools will have approximately six weeks to complete the inventory and ship it back to Riverside Publishing Company, no later than September 23, 2005. Results of the QELI will be returned to districts approximately four weeks after receipt of the schools inventories. Schools may return QELI as they are completed. Inventories will be scored and returned upon receipt.
For more information, please contact Donna Wolfe at dwolfe@arkedu.k12.ar.us or Dee Cox at dcox@arkedu.k12.ar.us