|
|
||
 |
||
| What is kindergarten screening? Is screening a readiness test? Is screening an intelligence test? How will I know how my child did? Does an "okay" letter mean that my child will be successful in kindergarten? Are the screening results used for class placement? Do parents receive a copy of the screening? Whom do I contact if I have more questions about screening?
Kindergarten screening is a brief assessment, usually lasting twenty minutes or less. The screening protocol used in Shrewsbury is the Early Screening Inventory by Meisels et al and is comprised of five parts:
The purpose of kindergarten screening is to identify children who may have significant learning problems. We conduct K screening in response to the state law that requires public school systems to screen all children prior to their entrance into kindergarten. It has been reported that five to seven percent of all children entering school are considered to be in the "High Risk" category. "High Risk" is a term used to describe children who may have learning problems that will impede their growth and development in school and perhaps cause failure in the future. For some children screening serves as the first step leading to an evaluation and possibly special education support services.
It's also important here to consider what screening is not! The screening assessment we have chosen is not a readiness test. Readiness tests tend to focus on skills acquisition, such as naming letters, recognizing numerals, name writing and knowing body parts. We do not believe that children should have mastered a particular set of skills to be considered "ready" to attend kindergarten. Rather, we believe that each child brings a unique set of prior learnings to school, and that our responsibility is to plan a program that meets the varying needs of each child.
Another prevalent misconception about screening is that it is a type of intelligence test (also known as an IQ test). The assessment tool that we use is not designed to measure children's overall level of intelligence, nor does it identify their potential for learning. It is a developmental profile which provides information about children's general language development, their small and gross motor development, and their ability to adapt what they already know to new situations?
1. Parents of children who score in the expected range will receive an "Okay" letter indicating that their child appears to be developing as expected. 2. Parents of children who score below the expected range will be contacted by Mrs. Brennan and given an opportunity to discuss the results. These children will also be rescreened in the fall of their kindergarten year. No child will be excluded from kindergarten.
Many factors contribute to success in school. Among the most important is social and emotional maturity. Unfortunately, these areas of development cannot be assessed during screening. If you have questions about your child's maturity, we recommend that you discuss your concerns with your child's preschool teacher or with a member of the screening team.
The screening results are used only to plan programs for children who may have special learning needs. All other classroom placements are made in an effort to create heterogeneous groups.
A copy of the screening results is placed in the child's folder at school. Parents are welcome to review the results, but the actual protocol is not given to parents. The screening assessment is only valid if children have not seen or practiced the tasks. Finally, if a family moves to a new community, the screening results may be sent to the new school.
Mrs. Alice Brennan is the screening coordinator. If you have more questions about the screening process, or if you would like to request an early screening, you may contact her by calling (508) 841-8867 or by e-mail. |
||
|
What
is kindergarten screening?
| |