CERTIFIED CLASS® OBSERVER (Orleans Parish) in New Orleans, Louisiana at Agenda for Children, Inc.

About Agenda for Children, Inc.

Agenda for Children works to build a Louisiana where every child can thrive. We support children and families by expanding access to essential resources, promoting healthy development and a strong start in life through high-quality early education and care, and strengthening the people, organizations, and systems that support children.

For over 40 years, Agenda for Children has worked to expand opportunity and support the well-being of Louisiana’s children and families. Our work is grounded in the vision of our founders, shaped by the lived experiences of those we serve, and driven by a commitment to building systems that empower children, families, and educators.

Our Values

• Kids Come First: Every decision starts with what’s best for children.
• Lead with Integrity: We act with honesty, empathy, transparency, and respect in everything we do.
• Families Matter: We recognize families as the foundation of a child’s healthy development and well-being.
• Start Strong: We invest early, knowing that strong starts lead to stronger futures.
• Support People and Partnerships: We champion the growth and leadership of those who care for and work with young children.
• Collaborate with Communities: We listen, learn, and build with the people we serve.
• Strengthen Systems: We inform and influence policies, programs, and practices to ensure they are effective and responsive to the people they serve.
• Learn and Adapt: We use facts, feedback, and real-life stories to guide our work.
• Steward with Care: We manage resources responsibly and with accountability.

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 2nd Edition 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/Toddler 2nd Edition 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 2nd Edition 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 and Agenda for Children.
• 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.