ERIC Number: EJ1386361
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-9289
EISSN: EISSN-1556-6935
Validation of the Pennsylvania Kindergarten Entry Inventory: Examining Neglected Validities in Large-Scale, Teacher-Report Assessment
Barghaus, Katherine M.; Dahlke, Katie; Fantuzzo, John W.; Howard, Eboni C.; Tucker, Natalie; Weinberg, Emily; Liu, Feng; Brumley, Benjamin; Williams, Ryan; Flanagan, Kristin
Early Education and Development, v34 n4 p940-962 2023
Research Findings: Kindergarten is the gateway to education and a point of great variability in children's knowledge and skills. As a result, there is keen interest in kindergarten entry assessments (KEAs) to understand and address gaps in early skills. This study rigorously investigated the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Kindergarten Entry Inventory (PA KEI). Multilevel factor analyses provided evidence for three factors--"Emerging Academic Competencies," "Learning Engagement Competencies," and "Communication Competencies." Measurement invariance analyses indicated that these factors were invariant across gender, race/ethnicity, dual language learners, and special needs status. Support for concurrent convergent and divergent relations was found only for scores on the "Emerging Academic" and "Learning Engagement Competencies" factors. Analyses of classroom-level variance in PA KEI scores indicated that teacher education and experience predicted between-classroom differences suggesting that teacher characteristics may influence ratings of children's skills. Practice or Policy: This study provides evidence to support the use of scores on two factors of the PA KEI with all children to identify skill gaps and guide instruction to close them. Findings from this study can also be used to inform professional development on the PA KEI. Finally, this study provides a model for other investigations and efforts to improve teacher-report KEAs.
Descriptors: Kindergarten, School Readiness, Measurement, Competence, Student Evaluation, Early Childhood Education, Social Development, Emotional Development, Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Development, Health
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Department of Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Oral and Written Language Scales; Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A