Associated Builds Expertise in Early Childhood Assessment State-Wide

Mon, November 01, 2010

Assessment systems measure child development in areas including early literacy and fine and gross motor skills.

This spring, Associated launched a state-wide early childhood assessment capacity-building initiative with an $800,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).  In just four months time, the program gave over 1,000 early educators the training they needed to implement a new assessment system in their programs or deepen the impact of their existing systems.

At Associated, we know that the effective and appropriate use of assessment directly impacts the quality of early care and education and fosters programs that prepare children for sustained academic success.

With this program, Associated took its assessment training model to an unprecedented scale.  Working in collaboration with Wheelock College, Educational Training and Consulting (ETC), and South Shore Day Care Services, Associated provided direct training to 1,000 early educators who serve low-income populations throughout Massachusetts to improve their knowledge, implementation, and effective use of child assessments in preschool programs.

An additional 30 early education leaders with advanced experience in assessment participated in an Assessment Training Institute atWheelock College.  This credit-bearing program established a cadre of skilled practitioners.

The childhood assessment capacity-building initiative will ultimately affect thousands of low-income children throughout the Commonwealth by cultivating a system of providers that better prepare them to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.