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1
Early Childhood Assessment:
Information for Parents
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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How can Parents be Involved in the Early Childhood Assessment Process?
Parents can provide feedback 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.
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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
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What is Massachusetts currently doing around early childhood assessment?
Universal Pre-Kindergarten Pilot Project
* Purpose
* Goals
* Assessment Planning Grants
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Finally…
Suggested articles specific to early childhood assessment
Contact at the Dept. of Early Education and Care:
Jennifer LouisDept. of EEC
51 Sleeper St., 4th FloorBoston, MA 02210
(617) 988-6640Jennifer.Louis@state.ma.us
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