The Words We Use: A Glossary of Terms for
Early Childhood Education Standards and Assessment
Definition
The use of a brief procedure or instrument designed to identify, from within a large population of children, those who may need further assessment to verify developmental and/or health risks.
Related Terms (Not Synonyms)
Intervention; Diagnosis; Readiness test
Explanatory Comments
- Screenings are designed specifically to identify children who may need further assessment to determine potential developmental and/or health risks (e.g., vision, hearing).
- Assessment experts and professional organizations recommend use of screening and screening instruments only for their intended purpose.
- Use of data from screenings for other purposes can lead to erroneous conclusions about children or the programs in which they are participating.
Web Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2001). Developmental surveillance and screening of infants and young children. Pediatrics, 108(1), 192-196. Retrieved June 5, 2003 from http://www.aap.org/policy/re0062.html
Administration for Children and Families. How screening and assessment practices support quality disability services in Head Start. Head Start Bulletin, April 2001, No. 70. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/hsbulletin70/hsb70_07.htm
Canadian Psychological Association. Guidelines for advertising preschool screening tests. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.cpa.ca/guide11.html
ERIC Clearinghouse. (1989). A glossary of measurement terms. ERIC Digest. ED315430. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://ericae.net/edo/ed315430.htm
Mann, T., & Powers, S. (1997). Screening and assessment for Head Start programs serving infants and toddlers. Early Head Start National Resource Center at Zero to Three. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.ehsnrc.org/InformationResources/ResourceArticles/ftscreen.htm
Other Resources
Gredler, G.R. (1997). Issues in early childhood screening and assessment. Psychology in the Schools. 34 (2), 99-107.
Meisels, S.J., & S. Provence. 1989. Screening and assessment: guidelines for identifying young disabled and developmentally vulnerable children and their families. Washington, DC: Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families.
Meisels, S.J., & Atkins-Burnett, S. (1994). Developmental screening in early childhood. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Shepard, L.A. (1994). The challenges of assessing young children appropriately. Phi Delta Kappan, 76, 206-212.
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