I students at the beginning of the year. The state has mandated that the screening tool cannot also be used as the evaluation tool for students, but extended-day teachers keep the profile the test provides for each student and use it as an individualized plan to guide instruction. Teachers use the skills card to evaluate all kindergartners at the end of the first semester and again at the end of the year. Evaluated skills are based on the state's 18 objectives for kindergarten and include social skills, knowledge of personal information, gross and fine motor skills, expressive language, visual discrimination, and other skills at advanced and basic levels. Each child is compared only to himself, not to peers.
Teachers use observation and portfolios to measure the skills card components.
The district identified specific tasks, many of them hands-on, that children must perform to show mastery. For example, a child must be able to lace a shoe in a criss-cross pattern to show fine motor skills. Teachers also include writing samples and journals in the portfolios. The kindergarten advisory committee is considering revising the skills checklist. The group believes that the assessment does not accurately reflect the way teachers are teaching.