What Is Fidelity of Implementation of Assessment and Why Is It Important?

Abstract

Chapter 2 begins by discussing the positive benefits of appropriate assessment practices on learning and the potential high-stake consequences of inadequate assessment implementation on children’s access to educational services and family supports. The authors present the key reasons why giving tests well is important and why early childhood educators should care about the quality of assessment. This chapter presents the case for focusing on the administration of standardized tests within the context of the assessment process. Fidelity of Implementation of Assessment is defined, and the major components of high-quality implementation are addressed. The major components of the administration process, including the typical formats for test items aimed at infants and toddlers, testing accommodations, and common errors in administration are presented. The authors show connections between common errors and the scoring process, including a discussion of the potential negative impacts of specific errors on a child’s scores. Finally, key takeaways regarding the education, professional development, and provision of field experiences for preservice and inservice professionals are provided.