Screening and assessment in early childhood
Screening & Assessment
in early childhood settings
There can be some confusion about the difference between screening and assessment in early childhood settings. This infographic helps illustrate key characteristics for each type of tool.
Characteristics of screening tools:
- Quick and easy to use
- Accurate, both in sensitivity and specificity
Screening • Completed by parents, doctors, teachers,
child care providers, home visitors, or other professionals
Screening answers the question,
“Does a child need an in-depth assessment?”
Screening can...
- identify children who are developing on schedule.
- identify children who would benefit from practice or support in specific areas.
- identify children at risk for developmental delays who should be referred for further evaluation.
Screening cannot...
- diagnose delays or disabilities.
- identify specific child goals to target. Screening only provides information on general areas of development.
Examples of screening tools:
ASQ-3 DECA PEDS ASQ:SE-2 DIAL-3 RDSI BITSEA ESI-R TABS
There are two types of assessment:
- Diagnostic assessment (professional evaluation)
- Ongoing assessment
Assessment
(programmatic, curriculum-based,
criterion-based)
Diagnostic assessment answers the question,
“Is the child eligible for services?”
Diagnostic assessments...
- are complex processes that may identify specific developmental disabilities.
- are administered by evaluation specialists.
- determine if there is a delay and the extent of the delay.
Examples of diagnostic assessment tools:
Bayley-III CLAS LAP-D BDI-2 GES MSEL CBCL ITSEA PDMS-2
Ongoing assessment answers the questions,
“What skills does the child have?” and “What skills should be goals?”
Ongoing assessments...
- provide a complete child profile.
- identify targeted goals and objectives.
- help with program planning.
- can be used for child or program evaluation.
Examples of ongoing assessment tools:
AEPS DECA HELP CCITSN/CCPSN DRDP SEAM COR Advantage GOLD TPBA/I2