Forum Network

Education experts discuss the increased use of formal testing for preschool aged-children. This tendency raises many concerns including whether tests of young children are really reliable and valid and whether or not we have testing instruments that can assess the most important dimensions of childhood development. The panel addresses whether the results of testing preschool-aged children can really be used to judge the quality of their teachers or preschool programs and how can we equitably incorporate English language learners and children with special needs into such testing programs. Discussion also covers how early childhood programs could be held accountable for quality and effectiveness without testing children.

Panelists include Catherine Snow, the Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Education at HGSE; Kathleen McCartney, Dean and Gerald S. Lesser Professor in Early Childhood Development at HGSE; and Jack P. Shonkoff, Julius B. Richmond FAMRI Professor in Child Health and Development, and Director, of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. The forum is introduced and moderated by Rosemary Chalk, Director of the Board on Children, Youth and Families at The National Academies.