In 2007, Herr Research Center director and research scientist Eboni C. Howard was appointed to the National Research Council Committee on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children. This committee was commissioned by Congress to offer guidance on identifying and assessing important outcomes for children from birth to age five participating in early childhood programs. 

In August the committee released its report, Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and How, which advises on appropriate use of assessments to inform teaching and improve early childhood programs. The report stresses the importance of defining clear goals for assessments and warns against using assessments and outcome measures to make high-stakes decisions about children, teachers, and programs.

To learn more, see the National Academies news release for this report.

Order the report from the the National Academies Press.