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Early Childhood Assessment: Information for Parents. Overview. What and why Parent Involvement Early Childhood Assessment vs. K-12 Assessment Role of Massachusetts Dept. of Early Education and Care. What is Early Childhood Assessment?.
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Overview • What and why • Parent Involvement • Early Childhood Assessment vs. K-12 Assessment • Role of Massachusetts Dept. of Early Education and Care
What is Early Childhood Assessment? • Process of observing, recording, and documenting work of children • Allows teachers to making the best educational decisions for the child • Takes place in family child care homes, centers, Head Start and public school preschools • Methods can include standardized tests observations, child portfolios, teacher and parent checklists and child and parent interviews • Child screening vs. assessment • Never used for high-stakes decisions
Why is Early Childhood Assessment Important? • Growing emphasis on early childhood assessment • Better decisions regarding teaching and learning • Identifying children with special needs • Program Improvement
What about a child is assessed? • Emotional/Social: getting along with their friends, resolving conflicts with friends • Language: listening, speaking • Physical: using pencils (fine motor skills), climbing and running (gross motor skills) • Cognitive: numbers, shapes, colors, patterns • Approaches to Learning: curiosity and excitement about learning and ways of learning new information
How does Early Childhood Assessment Differ from K-12 Assessment? • K – 12th grade assessment places emphasis on academic knowledge • Early childhood assessment places emphasis on all aspects of a child’s development
How does Early Childhood Assessment Differ from K-12 Assessment continued… • K-12 assessment uses mainly tests, quizzes and standardized tests. • Early childhood assessment uses child observations, developmental checklists and child portfolios • Both are used to guide decisions… • What is taught in the classroom • How teachers are trained
How can Parents be Involved in the Early Childhood Assessment Process? • Parents can providefeedback on child’s growth and development at home • Parents can support child’s learning and development at home • Parents and teachers/caregivers can work together to help children with special needs.
What can I do if my child care program does not use early childhood assessment? • You can ask questions about • How the provider knows your child is developing like they should, and • How the provider is measuring your child’s development.
What else can I ask providers about? • Ask questions about • A time for parents to discuss a child’s growth and development • How you can learn more about what your child is learning • Beliefs about child assessment • Involvement with Universal Pre-K pilot
What is Massachusetts currently doing around early childhood assessment? • Universal Pre-Kindergarten Pilot Project • Purpose • Goals • Assessment Planning Grants
Finally… • Suggested articles specific to early childhood assessment • Contact at the Dept. of Early Education and Care: Jennifer Louis Dept. of EEC 51 Sleeper St., 4th Floor Boston, MA 02210 (617) 988-6640 Jennifer.Louis@state.ma.us