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1: Introduction to Assessment and Its Many Purposes in Early Childhood Education and Care

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    272826
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    Assessment is a cornerstone of effective early childhood education, guiding instructional decisions, supporting developmental progress, and ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities. Two national organizations provide guidance to professionals in the field of early childhood education, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC; 2022) and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC; 2014) of the Council for Exceptional Children, have each outlined developmentally appropriate and recommended practices for assessment. These best practices emphasize the importance of systematic, collaborative, and culturally responsive assessment methods. This chapter integrates these practices into a comprehensive discussion of assessment in early childhood education and care.

    By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

    1. Define and explain the term "assessment" in early childhood education and distinguish it from formal testing, citing key differences in purpose and application.
    2. Identify best practices related to assessment as outlined by NAEYC (2022) and DEC (2014) and describe the importance of authentic, systematic, and culturally responsive assessment methods.
    3. Examine six primary purposes of early childhood assessment, including planning instruction, revising instruction, ensuring accountability, evaluating programs, screening, and determining eligibility for special education services.


    This page titled 1: Introduction to Assessment and Its Many Purposes in Early Childhood Education and Care is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .

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