• conduct authentic assessment during children's natural routines and play activities, so their true abilities can be accurately measured
• use assessment to inform effective program planning, both for individual children and groups
• ensure that their practices are aligned with DEC and NAEYC recommendations
• involve families as collaborative partners in the whole assessment process, from planning the assessment to determining if the results represent the child's abilities
• select and use assessment instruments with documented evidence of technical adequacy
• conduct eligibility assessments and identify children for special services under IDEA
• assess children with diverse abilities, including children who have severe or multiple disabilities, are from diverse cultural backgrounds, and are dual or multi-language learners
• engage in assessment to plan and revise quality instruction
• collect reliable program evaluation data at classroom, program-wide, state, and national levels

An essential textbook for all pre-service early childhood educators, this book is also a key resource for a wide range of in-service professionals—from principals and consultants to teacher study groups. Educators will learn how to confidently implement high-quality assessment and reap its benefits: inclusive, family-centered programming that improves outcomes for all children.