Page 65 - WV NE PRACT HANDBOOK - FINAL 9-1-22.pub

ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Assessment Instruments Approved to be Appropriate for Screening or
Evaluating the Needs of Infants and Toddlers

Purpose: The WV Birth to Three Approved Assessment Instrument list provides information on a
broad range of assessment instruments available to the field for the purpose of screening, eligibility
determination and program planning. Assessment instruments will be chosen based on the purpose
of the information gathering and the unique needs of the individual child.
Selection of Assessment Instruments:
As our knowledge and understanding of infant and toddler development has increased, we
know all areas of development are integrated and cannot be assessed in isolation from the
child’s daily activities and routines where the child uses these skills. We should gather
information around the child’s individual strengths and needs as well as inquiring as to what
activities the child engages in, with whom and where. This information assists us in eligibility
determination and in understanding where there are challenges for the child when participating in
the daily activities and routines of the family.
Assessment instruments should be selected that are developmentally appropriate, child/
family focused, and linked to meaningful intervention strategies. Assessment instruments must
be administered as intended to achieve consistent and valid results. Practitioners must understand
the purpose of the instrument they have selected and be aware of copyright issues. Do not copy the
test or test protocols unless given permission from the publisher.
All practitioners must meet the credential requirements as specified by the particular
instrument they are utilizing. Practitioners should only perform assessments they are qualified and
trained to administer. Qualifications refers to the combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, training,
experience, and, where appropriate, practice credentials (APA, 2000). This may include formal
training such as attending a workshop and completing the corresponding supervision requirements
or more informal training such as review the administration manual. Some instruments also have
training modules or “Frequently Asked Questions” documents online for additional training and
support.
The Making A Difference Initiative led by WV Birth to Three and the WV Department of Education,
Preschool Special Education Services brought individuals from across the state together in
September of 2005 to discuss best practices in early childhood assessment with the focus on
authentic assessment. “Authentic assessment materials examine real functioning in real situations.
Naturalistic observation, behavior rating scales, interview inventories, and curriculum based
measures are examples of materials that usually focus on authentic content. Testing children at
tables with flip cards, miniature toys, and a prolonged series of tasks is not a realistic sample of how
children really function in their own situations.” Not only may some of these non-authentic tasks be
non-representative of real situations, but many children with special needs cannot manage the tasks
or are not interested in them. (Bagnato, S. and Neisworth, J., 1999)

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