"Assessment is a generic term that refers to the process of gathering information for decision-making.” – Mary McLean, 2004 

It is very important to identify the purpose of assessment in order to select the best assessment instruments and strategies.
Purpose 1: Purposes of Assessment
1. Identification of special needs (surveillance, screening, evaluation)
2. Support learning (on-going assessment)
3. Program evaluation and monitoring trends
4. High stakes accountability

What is surveillance? A flexible, continuous process, in which knowledgeable professionals perform skilled observations of children during child health care (in consultation with families specials, child care, providers,etc.)

Screening
A brief assessment procedure designed to identify children who should receive further evaluation (e.g. developmental, hearing, vision, etc.)
• Brief, objective, and validated test
• Goal to differentiate children that are “propably ok “vs.” needing additional investigation
• Performed at a set point in time
Benefits of screening
Sorts children into 3 catagories
• Needs additional evaluation – Did not pass screening test
• Needs close monitoring – Passes screening test but has risk factors
• Needs ongoing monitoring in the context of well-child care – Passed screening test and has no known risk factors.

Purpose 2: Support Learning
• To inform caregivers, parents and teachers about what the child can do and what the child is ready to learn.
• Assessment is an on
• Going process that includes collecting, synthesizing and interpreting information about pupils, the classroom, and their instruction (NEEIR)
• “Early childhood assessment is flexible, collaborative decision-making process in which teams of parents and professionals repeatedly revise their judgments and reach consensus about the changing developmental educational, medical and mental health services needs of young children and their families.” (Bagnato and Neisworth, 1991) Quoted in DEC Recommneded Practices, 2005 

Purpose 3: Program Evaluation and Monitoring Trends
• Data gathered for groups of children used to make policy decisions. This information is not used to make decisions about the individual children that participate in programs but to evaluate the programs. Help document the quality of program delivery and to determine whether programs are effective in achieving intended outcomes (consequences for programs or state, not individual children) 

Purpose 4: High Stakes Accountability
• Assess academic achievement and hold students, teachers, and schools accountable

Teaching Cyle Ongoing Assessment -Gathering information to determine the current level of the child. Planning & Curriculum Goals – Deciding what should be done to promote development and what we want children to learn. Implementation – Providing meaningful, experiential activities that support individual and group goals guided by supportive interactions and relationships