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6.6: Summative Assessment—To What Extent Have Students Mastered the Standards?

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    283426
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    Summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, a specific point in time, or the end of school year to determine what has been learned (National Research Council 2008). These assessments are typically used for reporting progress to families, informing transitions to new programs or grade levels, and meeting accountability requirements. Examples include developmental checklists, report cards, standardized assessments, or portfolios that showcase a child’s work over time (Snow and Van Hemel 2008). While summative assessments can provide valuable insights, they must be developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and interpreted within the context of each child’s experiences (NAEYC 2009). Summative assessments in early childhood should be used in combination with formative approaches to provide a more complete and accurate picture of development.

    Contributions from

    Michelle Sands, Northern Illinois University


    6.6: Summative Assessment—To What Extent Have Students Mastered the Standards? is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.