Screening and assessment provide valuable information about each child's interests, strengths, and needs. Screening gives a snapshot of whether the child's development is on track. Assessment is an ongoing process that includes observation and provides information about development over time. Systematic, ongoing child assessment provides information on children's development and learning. It helps inform curriculum planning, teaching, and individualizing for each child across all Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains.
Ongoing Child Assessment: A Guide for Program Leaders
Learn how program leaders can use ongoing child assessment activities—Prepare, Collect, Aggregate and Analyze, Use and Share—to support children’s development and learning at different program levels.
Learn MoreObservation: The Heart of Individualizing Responsive Care
Learn about observing infants and toddlers, a key part of the ongoing child assessment cycle, and strategies to support this important component of quality infant and toddler care.
Learn MoreImplementation Guide: Using the ELOF to Inform Assessment
Support your program in reviewing how well an assessment instrument assesses children’s skills, behaviors, and knowledge in the ELOF domains.
Learn MoreStandards in Action: Assessment for Individualization
Read about how a fictional grantee meets the HSPPS on assessment for individualization. Program staff can use this vignette to reflect on and identify ways to put the standards into practice in their own program.
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Child Screening and Assessment
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Resource Type: Topic Page
National Centers: Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning
Last Updated: July 25, 2024