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Standards Assessment Inventory (SAI)

Important information about the SAI Using the SAI to build a school-based professional development plan, by Patricia Roy, 2010 (PDF). Using the SAI to build a district professional development plan, by Patricia Roy, 2010 (PDF). Latest evidence on NSDC's Standards Assessment Inventory, by SEDL Evaluation Services, February 2009 (PDF). For more information, see the following: Sample questions from the SAI (PDF). Assessment inventory measures professional development quality, by Stephanie Hirsh, Spring 2006 JSD (PDF).

The Standards Assessment Inventory (SAI) provides schools, school systems, state, provincial, and other education agencies data about the effectiveness and quality of their professional development program by examining the degree to which it aligns with Standards for Staff Development and Learning Forward's definition of quality staff development. SEDL has established the validity and reliability of this instrument.

SAI aligns directly with the 2001 Standards for Staff Development. With the recent release of the Standards for Professional Learning, the SAI will undergo revision resulting in SAI2 so that it aligns directly with the new standards. The revised Standards Assessment Inventory based on the Standards for Professional Learning will be available for use by the beginning of the 2012-13 school year. During 2011-12 school year, the SAI will continue to provide valid and highly reliable data about the effectiveness of professional learning and correlates to the newly revised Standards for Professional Learning.

Those who chose to use the SAI will be able to access support from Learning Forward staff on how to crosswalk the results of the SAI with Standards for Professional Learning. Download the Crosswalk with Previous Standards (PDF).

Other SAI support resources such as those for using the SAI to develop a school or district comprehensive professional development plan will be revised and available when the SAI2 is available.

The SAI is available online.

SAI ONLINE
A lead contact person for schools, school systems, or other education agencies that buy the online survey will receive an access code which allows their staff members to access and respond to the online survey. In addition, the lead contact person receives information about the survey, respondents' anonymity, directions for logging in, and guidance on how to get help to distribute to all staff members who are invited to complete the survey. The 60-item survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. The access code gives staff members access to the online survey for a designated period of time determined in advance by the lead contact person. At the conclusion of that time period or anytime after a minimum number of respondents have completed the survey, the lead contact person will receive report access codes that provide access to a number of summary reports for individual schools, the district, or agency. Information from the assessment includes:

• Report 1: Indicator Averages: The table shows the average indicator values calculated from the question responses. The five indicators needing the most improvement will be outlined. An additional chart accompanies this report that shows the numerical average response value for each question grouped by standards. There are five questions per standard.
  
  
• Report 2: Frequency Counts by Indicator: Bar graphs display the frequency of each response by count and percentage for each question. This report is organized by the three standards sections: Context, Process, and Content. The accompanying standards and five questions are listed by section.
  
  
• Report 3: Basic Frequency Counts: Bar graphs display the frequency of each response by count and percentage for each question. This report is organized by question in numerical order.

These reports will enable a faculty or leadership team to raw conclusions about the quality of professional development and how it relates to student achievement and make recommendations to assist in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating effective professional learning. Additional guidance for planning quality professional development is available in the form of online resource briefs for each standard, a school and district comprehensive professional development planning guide based on the SAI results, and tailored consultation services available for an additional cost.

Online version pricing available for individual schools or school systems

If you are interested in beginning the process with your staff, contact Sue Francis, coordinator of custom-designed services, at 972-943-0381 or Sue.Francis@learningforward.org