Revision as of 14:44, 29 April 2015

Welcome to the VCAT Wiki, your online community in the world of VCAT!

This Wiki is maintained by the creators of VCAT. It contains general information about the system. You can also find specific information on how to use VCAT by going to Basic Skills, on the left, and selecting the section you are interested in.

The System

A Complete Solution

The Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Tool (VCAT) is a powerful web-based system which enables teachers and administrators to plan, administer, and assess student learning based specifically on a district’s curriculum, the Vermont Standards, and the new Common Core Standards. This easy to use and intuitive suite offers the tools necessary to support and enhance data-driven decision making. It is used with about 28,000 Vermont Students.

• Developed in Vermont to meet the needs of Vermont schools.

• Allows you to deliver your district curriculum to your teachers over the web.

• Teachers assess students using your rubrics. Results are stored directly in your database.

• Incorporates data from NECAP, DRA, Fountas & Pinnell, PNOA, and other standardized tests.

• Allows you to keep track of student demographic data like Gender, IEP, Race, and SES.

• Performance reports are available directly from the system.

• All Vermont Standards, Vermont Grade Expectations, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards are included in the system.

• Access control system limits access to appropriate data.

• Highly secure system uses Unix, SQL, Java and other enterprise-level technology.

• Works with any web browser. No special software or hardware required.

• Standard web interface is quick and easy to learn.

• Costs just $6.00 per student per year. Includes training and support for primary technical and curriculum personnel.

Curriculum

Curriculum Delivery

• Teachers have access to district curriculum.

• District development personnel can enter curriculum directly into the system.

• Scoring rubrics can be easily created and linked to standards and your curriculum.

• Supports on-going development and modification of curriculum.

Curriculum Information

• Teachers can view information about the curriculum and the assessment.

Assessment Collection

• Teachers use rubrics to enter assessment scores for their students directly into the system.

• All assessments include verifying information on the person entering the scores to insure complete integrity of the data.

• Web-based system allows access directly from any computer with internet access.

Rubrics Included

• Rubrics are designed and entered directly in VCAT.

Assessment Entry

• Teachers enter assessment data directly into the system

Data Storage

• Every district has a unique database and full access to the raw data.

• Secure password-protected system insures confidentiality.

• Extensive access-control system limits staff to appropriate areas and data.

• Includes centralized storage of all assessment data.

Access Control

• The system limits access to data.

Report Generation

• Performance reports are available directly from the system.

• Teachers and administrators can generate dynamic reports to support data-driven decision making.

• Report data is always up to date.

• Data may be exported for use in spreadsheets.

Performance Reports

• Users may generate a variety of reports. See some samples below.

Custom Reports

• Custom reports can be developed and created to better meet your needs.

Security

• All data is stored in industry-standard SQL databases.

• Built with Unix, SQL, Java and other enterprise-level technology.

• Servers are Unix based with SSL encryption.

• Servers are located in a secure Vermont data center.

• Backup systems included.

Technical Support

• Support includes training and techinical support for primary technical and curriculum personnel.

• Designed and built in Vermont to meet the needs of Vermont schools.

• Comprehensive web-based help system backed up by on-site, telephone and email support.

• Visit our online help system here: VCAT Support

Standards

• Standards are fully integrated. See list below.

• Rubrics link directly to one or more standards.

List of Standards

Sample of a Common Core Standard

Sample of a Next Generation Science Standard

Current Users

• List of VCAT Users and information for specific School Districts and Supervisory Unions is available here.

Support

VCAT System Administrators

• If support is needed, contact VCAT Support.

• You can also access our support site by going to support.vcat.us

Staff

• Steve Peery - Top Cat

• Judith Bergeron - Support Director

• Taylor Hadden - Programmer

• Dave Tisdell - System Administrator

Contact Us

For more information about VCAT, contact:

Steve Peery at steve@peery.com

or

Effective Assessment 2103 Notch Road Jericho, VT 05465

info@effectiveassessment.com 802-355-9560