Is My Child Too Young for Assessment?
In this day and age, where assessment often recalls images of a movie villain in a dark cape and mask, many parents ask the question, “Isn’t my child too young for assessment?” From our perspective at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development, the answer is usually no. We are passionate about making sure all learners get their needs met, and good assessment is an important part of that process. CTD is unique when compared to other community-based programs for young learners in that our curriculum is designed to enrich, motivate, and challenge beyond grade level. As our courses become more complex and rigorous, measuring a student’s readiness for the content and instruction is vital to success.
We can compare academic assessment of early learners to parallel practices widely accepted in the medical field. Parents take their children for “well” doctor visits to ensure they are growing and thriving. The doctor collects data and then compares that data to averages, or norms, in order to better understand the child’s growth and development in context. Early learner assessment functions the same way, except it measures academic ability and acquisition of learning skills. The goal of CTD assessment for young students is to help identify advanced academic achievement when compared to same aged peers so that they can participate in programming designed to match their needs.
Many school systems and early learner programs offer academic assessment to help inform instruction, programming, enrichment, and intervention for students. Often, however, families may not have access to these assessments. CTD offers two assessment options for early learners: the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA) and NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). Both tests measure academic knowledge and skills at age appropriate levels and are norm referenced to provide comparative analyses. CTD provides this service so that students can gain access to programs designed to meet the needs of advanced learners. The tests CTD offers are an option if a child’s current school system does not already conduct such testing.
Just as children grow and change, so does our programming at CTD. Beginning at age four, CTD has programs without eligibility requirements and are open enrollment. These programs provide exposure to enriched content and a classroom setting. As students begin to grow in their learning, demonstrate more advanced abilities, and show a need for more complex content, CTD programs require a qualifying score, starting at or above the 90thpercentile on a nationally norm-referenced test like MAP or KTEA. This process is not “exclusionary” in nature. It is actually much the opposite. We identify students performing at the top of their age group so we can intervene with specific advanced, accelerated, or enriched curriculum that will meet their unique needs as learners.
If you are interested in learning more about CTD Assessment, please contact our Assessment Coordinator at (847) 491-3831.