WHO WE ARE

The first 1,000 days of a child's life are crucial for developing social and emotional skills, executive functioning, and relationships that lay the foundation for life. However, many children and families across Louisiana and New Orleans lack access to high-quality resources essential for early learning. In 2022, less than half of New Orleans' children entered kindergarten meeting school readiness benchmarks, and fewer than one-third of socioeconomically disadvantaged children under age 5 had access to publicly-funded early care and education. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks Louisiana 48th in child well-being.

Agenda for Children believes this is unacceptable and works tirelessly to improve child well-being by supporting, informing, and empowering the adults who shape their lives—teachers, parents, policymakers, and donors. We connect these adults to resources, ideas, services, and networks to help children thrive, even in challenging circumstances. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and pursue their dreams, and we partner with families to make this a reality. Watch our video to learn more.

OVERVIEW

Agenda for Children seeks to contract with reliable independent observers certified in the Teachstone CLASS ® tool to conduct classroom observations on-site in early learning programs throughout Orleans Parish. We are currently looking for observers who are certified in the Infant, Toddler, and/or Pre-K-3 CLASS ® tool(s) to conduct observations in Orleans Parish on a flexible seasonal contract basis.

CLASS ® is an assessment tool developed by Teachstone to measure the quality of teacher-child interactions. The CLASS ® assessments conducted by Agenda for Children observers are used by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) to rate the quality of publicly-funded early learning programs.

Compensation:

Independent contractors are compensated on a per observation basis, with additional payments for participation in required and optional meetings and mandatory professional development tasks related to their CLASS ® certifications and improving observation reliability via calibration exercises. Rates vary by observation type due to varying time requirements:

• Pre-K observations: $225 per observation (maximum of five observations per week).
• Infant and Toddler observations: $200 per observation (maximum of five observations per week).
• Compensation is also provided for:
  • Four required meetings per semester
  • Time spent engaging in calibration exercises
  • Reimbursement for CLASS ® certification and re-certification costs, contingent on successful completion of eight observations

Contractors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses, and will receive a Form 1099 for tax reporting.

Observer Availability:

This contract opportunity is seasonal with varying, flexible hours. Contractors must be available for at least eight observations per month and may perform up to five observations per week, Mondays through Fridays.

Observations are conducted on-site in the morning and typically start between 8 - 9:30 a.m. They last two - three hours, though total time per observation varies based on each individual site's schedule. Once concluded, the observer must complete documentation, data entry, and a brief follow-up report for each observation, which takes on average two - two and a half additional hours. Contractors are expected to manage their own availability and scheduling.

Fall observations are conducted from roughly from mid-August to mid-December. Spring observations are conducted from the end of January to mid-May.

Scope of Work

The primary deliverables include but are not limited to:

Observation Completion (60%)

• Ensure timely arrival for scheduled observations
• Communicate relevant classroom, teacher, and/or early learning center updates to the Agenda for Children Program Manager of Observations and Accountability
• Complete all scheduled observations as assigned
• Follow the CLASS ® observation protocol as written in order to ensure observations are completed with full fidelity to the tool and network protocol
• Complete assigned, scheduled comparative observation quality checks known as “double coding” with another certified observer intermittently throughout the semester
• Participate in debriefing activities as requested

Documentation, Reporting, & Administration (30%)

• Coordinate with Agenda for Children to confirm the assigned observation schedule
• Complete a score sheet and submit the scores online using both the Early Childhood (EC) Portal and the NOEEN Hub/Scheduler by the close within five business days of the observation
• Submit debrief forms using the appropriate system within five business days of the observation
• Provide all paper score sheets monthly as requested by NOEEN
• Provide and update availability for observations in accordance with the scheduling process
• Submit accurate invoices according to schedule provided

Meetings & Professional Development (10%)

• Participate in up to four mandatory meetings per semester designed to ensure quality and collaborate on program updates
• Participate in required calibration exercises twice annually, once per observation period
• Complete professional development activities related to CLASS ® reliability and observation quality, as agreed upon in the contract

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Ability to pass a Louisiana Child Care Criminal Background Check
• Strong attention to detail and writing skills
• Maintain a reliable standing in the Teachstone CLASS ® tool
• Optional: Experience in early childhood and/or conducting assessments

CLASS ® Tool Reliability:

• Contractors must obtain and maintain certification as a reliable CLASS ® observer by completing a multiple-day training on reliable use of the tool (Infant, Toddler, and/or Pre-K-3), then passing an online certification test.
• Observers must maintain certification throughout the tenure of their contract by recertifying as required by Teachstone through Agenda for Children facilitated trainings.
• Certified CLASS ® Observers must calibrate through Teachstone prior to the start of each observation season to ensure that the observer is still in alignment with the tool. Calibrations are provided by Agenda for Children.

CORE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT MEASURES

Agenda for Children / New Orleans Early Education Network Competencies:

• Commitment
• Responsibility
• Reliability
• Quality
• Cross-cultural responsiveness
• Attention to detail
• Proactivity
• Ability to problem-solve
• Effective communication
• Professionalism

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Participates in training required by the funding source and/or required by Agenda for Children, the Louisiana Department of Education, or others as required.