The Alaska Developmental Profile: Perceptions of a State-Mandated Kindergarten Screening Tool

• In Event: 41.031 - Ready for Kindergarten? Screening, Formative Assessment, and Performance Assessment

Abstract

The primary focus of this paper is to share the results of a mixed methods research study that used a state-wide survey and in-depth interviews to examine Alaskan educators’ perceptions and use of the Alaska Developmental Profile (ADP), a state-mandated kindergarten assessment tool. Results indicate that the majority of stakeholders do not believe the ADP impacts their instruction or their students, and while there are some that do use the ADP to inform their instruction, inconsistency in its implementation and uncertainty around the purpose and results lead to unreliable results. This study acts as a case study concerning the larger issue – if and how mandatory assessments impact teachers’ practices and their students.

Authors

• Kathryn Ann Ohle, University of Alaska Anchorage

• Hattie Harvey, University of Alaska Statewide

• Sophia Leshan, University of Alaska Anchorage