Why does the use of formal assessment tools raise concerns on the part of the early childhood professional community? What is the bottom line in determining whether assessment is being applied ethically?
What will be an ideal response?
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of formal assessments, particularly standardized tests, for assessing young children. The use of formal assessment tools has raised concerns on the part of the early childhood professional community for several reasons:
a . Test results may not be valid and reliable because it is difficult to administer tests to young children. The tests may be beyond children's developmental capabilities, or their behavior may be influenced by mood or the test situation.
b. Tests measure a narrow range of objectives, mostly cognitive and language abilities, and miss important objectives of early childhood education such as creativity, problem solving, and social and emotional development.
c. Many tests are culturally biased. Children who do not speak English as a first language and those from minority groups do not fare well on tests.
d. Tests are often inappropriately administered and interpreted because most early childhood professionals are not trained in the appropriate use and interpretation of standardized tests.
e. Teachers who want children to do well on tests may introduce skills too early or alter their curriculum to "teach to the test," resulting in teaching methods and content that are inappropriate for young children.
f. Test results are often used for purposes for which they were not intended. They may determine whether a child is rejected from a program, retained a grade level, or placed in remedial education rather than improving classroom practice. Tests have also been used inappropriately as a basis for making policy decisions.
g. There has been too much emphasis on the results of standardized tests without considering information from multiple sources.
NAEYC has developed a position statement that addresses the bottom line in determining whether assessment is being applied ethically. According to the position statement, "the most important consideration in evaluating and using standardized tests is the utility criterion. The purpose of testing must be to improve services for children and to ensure that children benefit from their educational experiences." (NAEYC, 1988)
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