The Compatibility Between State Eligibility Criteria for Developmental Delays and Available Early Childhood Assessment Instrumentation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to survey the 50 state consultants in early childhood special education in the U.S. to evaluate whether they perceived available developmental assessment instrumentation to be satisfactory for the identification of children with developmental delays in the 3- through 5-year-old age range. The survey questions were organized into four main themes: (a) a description of eligibility criteria used to identify children with developmental delays; (b) the general operational characteristics of the early childhood handicapped identification system; (c) satisfaction with the available assessment instrumentation for the identification of developmental delays given state eligibility criteria; and (d) demographic information on the respondents. Results showed a need for assessment instruments that facilitate parent involvement and a need for special norms for minorities and children with physical disabilities. The significance and implications of these and other findings for early childhood practitioners and researchers were discussed.