Some preschool assessment tools target specific language and early literacy behaviors. Educators, administrators and other preschool professionals can use these measures to examine the child's verbal, communication and reading development as well as identify early problem areas or special needs. For example, the Early Language and Literacy Classroom Observation (ELLCO) helps teachers improve the quality of an early literacy education by observing and assessing preschool-aged children as well as their classroom environments. Educators looking for a way to assess and track preschoolers' developing language use and literacy skills can try the Teacher Rating of Oral Language and Literacy (TROLL) scales. This tool evaluates children's literacy development to inform classroom practices and help build instructional practices that match their abilities.
A mutli-domain assessment examines preschoolers' development across multiple areas, typically including all the developmental domains: cognitive, social, emotional and physical. Multi- or multiple-domain measures help early childhood educators get a broad picture of children's growth and may identify areas for special concern. Some multi-domain tools come with pre-packaged curriculum. For example, the Teaching Strategies' Creative Curriculum for children ages three through five comes with the option of using the company's assessment tool, whether or not its plans and theory of the creative curriculum are used.
Preschool screening tools help to identify variations from what many consider "typical" development. Although the majority of these assessments focus on delays and/or disabilities, screening tools may also look for giftedness or above-average development. Tools such as the Batelle Developmental Inventory, the Brigance IED II and Pearson Child Development Inventory all provide early childhood professionals with a means to evaluate preschool-aged children's development in relation to special needs, exceptional abilities, and the necessity for early intervention services.
Unlike a other assessments that use observation and interview scales, work sampling systems evaluate children based on their actual classroom work. This may include art projects, written alphabet letters, journals or almost any other in-class item children create. Some assessment manufacturers, such as Pearson Education, have pre-packaged work sampling systems that come with rating scales. Another option includes creating your own school-wide system. Preschools can decide what they feel is important to measure and look for in children's work and design their own form of assessment.