Our assessment practices serve multiple purposes: to understand each child’s development and learning, to plan appropriate experiences and teaching strategies, to communicate with families, and to evaluate program effectiveness.

Authentic, Ongoing Assessment:

We use multiple methods to gather information about children’s learning and development:

• Systematic observation during naturally occurring activities

• Collection of work samples and photographs

• Documentation of significant moments and developmental milestones

• Conversations with children about their thinking and learning

• Input from families about children’s development in the home context

Assessment information is used to:

• Individualize teaching and create experiences that challenge and support each child

• Track progress toward developmental goals and identify children who may benefit from additional support

• Share meaningful information with families about their child’s growth and learning

• Reflect on and improve our teaching practices

• Demonstrate program quality and effectiveness

Partnership with Families in Assessment:

We recognize families as essential partners in understanding children’s development. We:

• Gather information from families about children’s interests, strengths, and needs

• Share assessment information through regular conferences, daily communication, and documented observations

• Collaborate with families to set goals for children’s learning and development

• Use families’ observations of their children to gain a more complete picture of each child’s capabilities