Assessment is a preliminary phase in the evaluation process in which various techniques are used to gather information about students' growth and development. Evaluation refers to the decision-making which follows assessment. Assessment information is weighed against the objectives of the Kindergarten program. The main purpose of formative evaluation is to guide instruction and student learning. It provides teachers with valuable information upon which instructional decisions and modifications can be made and provides students with direction for future learning.
Summative evaluation occurs most often at the end of an instructional theme or a reporting period.
Seldom are evaluations strictly formative or summative. For example, summative evaluation can be used formatively to assist teachers in making decisions about changes to instructional methods, curriculum content or the learning environment. Similarly, formative evaluation assists teachers in making summative judgments about student progress. Diagnostic evaluation usually occurs at the beginning of the school year or before a new theme is introduced. The main purposes are to identify students with particular developmental needs so that individual assistance can be provided, to ensure that all learners are sufficiently challenged, and to identify student interests.