Assessments/Observations

Early screening is key to providing an effective literacy program. Each aspect of our curriculum, combined with the assessment initiatives set by diverse state/national parties, guides us when selecting screening tools.

In the states of Virginia and Maryland, we use the following assessment programs: Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS), BRIGANCE® Early Childhood Screens and Early Math Diagnostic Assessment (EMDA). These tools measure your child’s knowledge of important emergent literacy fundamentals, such as name writing, alphabet knowledge, print and word awareness, literacy concepts, developing language and quantitative mathematics concepts. We conduct bi-annual assessments to evaluate our preschoolers’ progress.

If at any time our staff or management completes observations that may need further professional evaluation, we may request that your family seek a referral to the appropriate behavioral, educational, mental health, wellness or medical services. We have resources available for referral to appropriate agencies. We are always willing to participate in any screening, conferences or evaluations that may need to be completed up to and including IEP/IFSP meetings.

All COA schools provide the COR Advantage Assessment tool, which is designed to measure development from Infancy through Kindergarten. The essential eight content areas of early childhood education are covered: Approaches to Learning; Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development and Health; Language, Literacy and Communication; Mathematics; Creative Arts; Science and Technology; and Social Studies. Children who are English Language Learners are also assessed in a ninth area.

This assessment will be shared with your family formally three times each school year; We offer parent/teacher conferences twice a year (November and May) and in February we offer parents an opportunity to review. The Key Developmental Indicators in conjunction with the Cor Advantage/“How I Shine” Portfolios, are indicators observed within the classroom, yet just as easily observed while out in the community and in your own home. Our hope is that these items are utilized as part of our family-school connection and will continue your child’s developmental progress.