Section 26.240  Assessment

The competent early childhood teacher understands various formal and informal assessment strategies and uses them to support the continuous development of all children.

a)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent early childhood teacher:

1)         understands assessment as a means of evaluating how children learn, what they know and are able to do in relationship to national, State, and local standards, and what kinds of experiences will support their further growth and development.

2)         understands the purposes, characteristics, and limitations of different kinds of assessments.

3)         understands measurement theory and assessment-related issues such as validity, reliability, bias, and scoring.

4)         understands how to use the results of assessment to reflect on and modify teaching.

5)         understands how to select, construct, and use assessment and evaluation strategies and instruments for diagnosis and prescription.

b)         Performance Indicators – The competent early childhood teacher:

1)         uses a variety of assessment results to diagnose students' learning and development, develop a student profile, align and modify instruction, and design teaching strategies.

2)         maintains useful, accurate, and ethical records of students' work and performance and communicates about students' progress knowledgeably and responsibly to students, parents, school, and community.

3)         uses assessment results for the purpose of planning appropriate programs, environments, and interactions and adapting for individual differences.

4)         participates and assists other professionals in conducting family-centered assessments.

5)         selects, evaluates, and interprets formal, standardized assessment instruments and information used in the assessment of children and integrates authentic classroom assessment data with formal assessment information.

6)         communicates assessment results and integrates assessment results from others as an active participant in the development and implementation of students' IEPs and IFSPs.

7)         involves families in assessing and planning for individual children, including children with disabilities, developmental delays, or special abilities.

8)         uses appropriate technologies to monitor and assess students' progress.