I believe assessment should measure development and milestones verses growth. Developmental assessments screen progress towards the stage of development. In addition, developmental screening is a procedure designed to identify children who should receive more intensive assessment or diagnosis, for potential developmental delays. I think developmental screening are important because many children with developmental delays are not being identified early. Statistics suggested that in the United States, 17% of children have a developmental or behavioral disability (www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/devtool.htm 2011).
Education in the Netherlands go-between the ages of four to twelve, children attend elementary school (basisschool; literally, "basic school"). This school has eight grades, called groep 1 (group 1) through groep 8. School attendance is compulsory from group 2 (at age five), but almost all children commence school at age four (in group 1). Groups 1 and 2 used to a separate institution akin to kindergarten (kleuterschool; literally, "toddler's school"), until it was merged with elementary schools in 1989. From group 3 on, children will learn how to read, write, and do math. In group 8 the vast majority of schools administer an aptitude test called the Cito Eindtoets Basisonderwijs (literally, "Cito final test primary education").
I think assessments need to stay just that "an assessments" not a test. I understand schools need to know how much a child has learned. However, the education system has a hard balancing between "testing" and "assessments" and which is the best for our students. They need to have a purpose and plan for the children who receive them.
Information retrieved from:
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/devtool.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org
