Measuring Children's Progress from Preschool Through Third Grade

Report Read time:
Measuring Children's Progress from Preschool Through Third Grade

This paper discusses the measurement of child outcomes in the context of evaluating the effectiveness of preschool programs for children. Little is known about how individual districts and states are evaluating early childhood programs, so this discussion highlights some of the ways in which this challenge is being addressed.

After a brief discussion of the importance of focusing on the whole child rather than just their language and cognitive domains, most of the paper explores what is known about current assessment methods used with young children. Problems related to relying solely on traditional, on-demand standardized tests to assess achievement of young children will be explained. 

Although young children who are English Language Learners (ELL) represent an increasing proportion of preschool children, it is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss in-depth the issues involved in assessing these children. 

Observational measures that span the preschool to elementary age range offer an alternative to direct testing.  The use of these measures in formative evaluation efforts will be discussed with the caution that high stakes should never be attached to these measures.  Using a multimethod approach would provide a richer portrayal of children's performance.

Innovative and alternative approaches to assessment used by some states will be highlighted, and concerns about reliability of teacher judgments discussed.  The paper concludes with a brief discussion of measuring classroom quality and recommendations for next steps.

Downloads Report Measuring Childrens Progress from Preschool Through Third Grade
Downloads Report Measuring Childrens Progress from Preschool Through Third Grade
America’s Overdose Crisis
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Quick View
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up

MORE FROM PEW

A worker in a seafood market dumps bright orange shrimp from a blue bin onto a bed of ice between a lot of other seafood laid out for sale. Other workers are visible in the background, as are the arms of shoppers placing orders from the other side of the ice bed. Seafood Industry Benefits From Greater Vessel Transparency
An aerial view of a vast wetland, with scattered vegetation visible on sandy islands. In Western Australia, a Conservation Model for the World
A presentation being given by a businesswoman to a group of participants at a business conference. Four Plan Features Can Boost 'Retirement Readiness'
A large group of people in formal or traditional attire stands together on a stage, with a digital background depicting marine life and the large text “WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.” WTO Needs to Redouble Its Effort on Fishing Subsidies
Composite image of modern city network communication concept

Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

Sign up for our four-week email course on Broadband Basics
Quick View

How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?

Pills illustration
Pills illustration

What Is Antibiotic Resistance—and How Can We Fight It?

Sign up for our four-week email series The Race Against Resistance.
Quick View
Pills illustration

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.