The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) form part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of the assessment system are therefore provided in sections 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.5, 6.2.6, 6.2.7, 6.2.8 and 6.2.9.
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details are therefore provided in sections 5.2.1 (curriculum) and 6.2.1 (assessment).
Around one third of American states require some form of pre-kindergarten standardised testing and the practice is widely pursued in others.91
Maryland
The Maryland Model for School Readiness is designed to support local school systems in their efforts to enhance school readiness among young children. It consists of:
The Maryland Model for School Readiness has been operational since September 1997, following a two-year field test. In the 1998-99, school year 20 of Maryland's 24 local school districts took part in the initiative.66 By the 2001-2002 school year, all schools in all school districts were taking part.147
Wisconsin
See 6.1.2.
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details are therefore provided in sections 5.2.1 (curriculum) and 6.2.2 (assessment).
The states which use some form of pre-kindergarten standardised testing often use the results to help make decisions on kindergarten entry.91
Tests administered at various levels in the states of the USA are used to monitor student progress, as a criterion for Grade promotion, for curriculum improvement, to influence policy and as a means of holding schools accountable.10
Maryland
The Maryland Model for School readiness (see section 6.1.1. for details) can be helpful in developing system-wide descriptions of student need in each of Maryland's 24 juristrictions and consequently in targeting federal, state and local funding to address needs. It may also facilitate the development of forums for partnership building and result in changes to curricular and intervention programmes.146
Wisconsin
Some schools use tests at kindergarten entrance. These are intended to be helpful in initial programme planning and information sharing with parents. They are not intended to be used to create barriers to school (Grade 1) entry or to sort children into homogeneous groups.117
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of participation in kindergarten assessment systems are therefore provided in section 6.2.3.
Education, and consequently assessment also, is optional during this phase. Some states do, however, insist on pre-kindergarten standardised testing.91
Maryland
See 6.1.1.
Wisconsin
See 6.1.2.
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of the nature of kindergarten assessment are therefore provided in section 6.2.4.
Multiple-choice standardised tests are used throughout the United States in continuous classroom assessment from kindergarten to university. Around one third of American states insist on pre-kindergarten standardised testing and the practice is widely pursued in others.91
Maryland
Using the Maryland Model for School Readiness, teachers observe their students' learning over the first six weeks of the school year in the following areas:
Wisconsin
See 6.1.2.
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of the administration of kindergarten assessment are therefore provided in section 6.2.5.
The standardised multiple-choice tests sometimes used to assess kindergarten and pre-kindergarten children are usually produced by private test-setting companies.91
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of the kindergarten grading process are therefore provided in section 6.2.6.
Schools use either norm-referenced tests, criterion-referenced tests, or a combination of both. The most frequent type of testing is teacher-developed examinations.10
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of the consequences of kindergarten assessment are therefore provided in section 6.2.7.
See section 6.1.2 in addition.
Wisconsin
See 6.1.2.
General/national kindergarten assessment
The first phase in the education system in the USA is pre-compulsory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education, which caters for those aged 3 - 5/6. In most states, the curriculum and assessment frameworks for the actual kindergarten year (the year immediately preceding compulsory education, children aged 5-6) are part of the overall framework for curriculum and assessment from kindergarten to Grade 12 (children aged 5+ to 17/18). Details of the use of results in kindergarten assessment are therefore provided in section 6.2.8.
Schools are generally required to report to and consult with parents extensively.24
Maryland
In the 2000-2001 school year, those kindergartens using the Maryland Model for School Readiness identified that just over 40 per cent of students were assessed fully ready for this, their first formal step in education. This figure compared with 50 per cent who were deemed to be "approaching readiness", that is, they were inconsistently demonstrating the skills, behaviours and abilities needed to meet kindergarten readiness and required targeted instructional support to succeed in kindergarten, and an additional 10 per cent rated as "developing readiness". That is, they were not demonstrating the required skills and needed considerable support in several domains.146
The results for the 2001-2002 school year, the first school year in which all schools in Maryland used the Model for School Readiness, identified that 49 percent of all entering 'kindergartners' in the state had the skills and abilities to do kindergarten work successfully. The remaining 51 per cent required additional support to be successful. Of these, 44 per cent were considered to be approaching readiness (see above) and seven per cent were categorised as developing readiness (see above).147
Wisconsin
The overall retention rate (that is, students who repeat a year) in Wisconsin for students in kindergarten to Grade 12 is around two per cent.119