Abigayle Turner
DAP Summary Sheet
Appropriate Practices
Assessment is used to plan curriculum
an experiences, assess a child’s
developmental needs, and measure
and monitor their goal progress.
Creating a relationship with the
families of the children by making
them feel welcome, involving them in
what their child is learning, and
making their personal knowledge of
the child feel important and heard.
Screenings are done and used to help
Identify any children who might need
extra learning assistance as well as
other special services. It is also
appropriate to then proceed with
follow-up specialists or interventions.
Using multiple assessments, methods,
and sources to make decisions about a
child’s learning or placement.
Assessments are used to assess the
“Whole Child” (cognitive, physical,
and social and emotional domains) not
just the academic (literacy and Math)
concepts.
The assessments are well planned out The assessments are not planned,
and written. They planned assessments shared, or understood by the teachers or
are also shared with teachers, families, families.
and anyone else who may participate
or facilitate the assessments.
Frequent and regular screenings are
done to assess a child’s health and
developmental needs.
Less Appropriate Practices Pages
Assessment is used to label or harm 21-22
children and is conducted in 44-45
inappropriate ways that are not fair to 178,250,321,323
the child or the data.
Disrespecting and not including the 22.45, 181,
family at all in your program. 251,325
Not screening at all or using one time 178,248,321
screening to diagnose a child. Not
screening at all or too late can impact
the child from getting the help they need
and deserve when and as soon as they
can get it.
Using one-time assessments, and one 178,247,321
kind of assessment, to determine
important learning decisions as well as
entry to the program or other programs
like Kindergarten.
Assessments only assess the literacy and 178,247,321
Math areas of a Child’s development.
179,248,322,325
Teachers Inappropriately diagnose a 179,248,322
child with or without screenings, or do
not have screening often enough or at
all.
 Assessments are done at appropriate Assessments are random, nonexistent, 179, 249,322
increments throughout the year so they or too late in the year to make a
can be used to improve a child’s difference for a child’s learning
learning experiences. experiences.

Teachers have the resources, Teachers are not trained nor do they 179,249,322
materials, and training they need to have the tools to accurately and properly
effectively and appropriately conduct compete assessments.
assessments.

Assessments are done on the child’s Assessments are only done on what 180,250,323
individual skills as well as what the children can individually do.
child can do in situations and where
collaborative work and scaffolding is
present.
Assessments are only done and used Assessments are done that have no use 180,250,324
for purposes that have yielded to be or are valid for their purpose.
reliable and valid. Screenings are also
only used and conducted if need and
in specific situations.

Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood

programs serving children from birth through age 8. Washington, DC: National Association for
the Education of Young Children.