ERIC Number: ED555247
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 520
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-309-12465-2
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and How
Snow, Catherine E., Ed.; Van Hemel, Susan B., Ed.
National Academies Press
The assessment of young children's development and learning has recently taken on new importance. Private and government organizations are developing programs to enhance the school readiness of all young children, especially children from economically disadvantaged homes and communities and children with special needs. Well-planned and effective assessment can inform teaching and program improvement, and contribute to better outcomes for children. This book affirms that assessments can make crucial contributions to the improvement of children's well-being, but only if they are well designed, implemented effectively, developed in the context of systematic planning, and are interpreted and used appropriately. Otherwise, assessment of children and programs can have negative consequences for both. The value of assessments therefore requires fundamental attention to their purpose and the design of the larger systems in which they are used. "Early Childhood Assessment" addresses these issues by identifying the important outcomes for children from birth to age 5 and the quality and purposes of different techniques and instruments for developmental assessments. The following are appended: (1) Glossary of Terms Related to Early Childhood Assessment; (2) Information on Stakeholder Forum; (3) Development of State Standards for Early Childhood Education; (4) Sources of Detailed Information on Test and Assessment Instruments; and (5) Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff. [Individual chapters contain references. The content of this document was prepared by the Committee on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children, National Research Council.]
Descriptors: Young Children, Child Development, Evaluation Methods, School Readiness, Well Being, Infants, Toddlers, State Standards, Early Childhood Education, Preschool Education
National Academies Press. 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. Tel: 888-624-8373; Tel: 202-334-2000; Fax: 202-334-2793; e-mail: Customer_Service@nap.edu; Web site: http://www.nap.edu
Publication Type: Books; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: US Department of Health and Human Services
Authoring Institution: National Academies, National Research Council; National Academies, National Academy of Sciences
Grant or Contract Numbers: HHSP23320042509XI