Predictive validity of the Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language and the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration was investigated singly and in combination for a group of preschool children. The results indicated little practical significance in using both instruments as opposed to either test singly. (Author/CP)

A prekindergarten screening program using a team consisting of two kindergarten teachers, a school psychologist, a speech/language therapist, a nurse, and an occupational therapist/special education teacher for the identification of "high risk" children is described. (PHR)

Traditionally, the contributions of school psychologists during the screening phase of preschool assessment have been minimal. The purpose of this article is to broaden the school psychologist's perspective regarding preschool screening and in the process introduce some specific screening activities which closely parallel the school psychologist's…

The Yellow Brick Road was administered to preschool children. Normative data were obtained via a principal-components analysis. Results indicated that all subscales tapped a common factor. The auditory subscale appeared to be the best overall predictor. More normative date are needed regarding this first-grade-readiness test. (Author)

To determine the effects of a teacher's level of questioning on the development of children's problem-solving ability, children were exposed to three five-week treatment conditions in a half-day laboratory nursery school program. High-level cognitive questioning seemed to result in children's ability to generate significantly more alternative…

Discusses various problems in preschool screening for learning disabilities. Reviews studies which show that, in spite of such problems, early identification of learning disabilities is a viable process. Examines advances in reading theory and research which point to new variables that may enhance the predictive power of early screening devices…

Compares the capability of three kindergarten screening instruments to correctly predict which children (n=95) would be recommended for referral to remedial programs or for retention: a Piagetian-based instrument, a general screening test, and a language-specific screen. Although the Piagetian-based test had poor predictive qualities, both the…

A survey of 105 preschool special education teachers asked what assessment instruments they used, why they had chosen them, and what factors were important in their choice. The rationale cited most often was that the test was already in use. Test scope and ease of use were also important factors. (Author/VW)

This conference summary presents the views of five early childhood special education professionals, each of whom recommended one child outcome measure and one family outcome measure for use in a typical early childhood special education program serving children from birth to five years with a range of handicapping conditions. (Author/JW)

Children scheduled for medical examination before entering school were followed in school one or two years later. Examination nonattenders had a two-fold risk of repeating grades, special class placement, referral for speech-language problems, teacher-reported learning or behavior problems, failure of vision or hearing screening, transfer between…

Development of a screening tool for detecting developmental disabilities and at-risk conditions in younger children is described. Data obtained from this tool are correlated with two other widely used screening instruments. Future research should continue to explore the interrelationship of items on screening instruments to obtain valid and…

Research supports the reliability and validity of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA); but its concurrent validity with conventional intelligence tests suggests that the McCarthy General Cognitive Index and Intelligence Quotient are not comparable. The MCSA eliminates certain weaknesses found in similar tests: the Stanford-Binet and…

Questions are raised regarding the appropriateness of testing children for school readiness from both a conceptual standpoint and in terms of the negative reactions created in both children and parents. (JD)

Tested Greenspan's model of personal competence with data obtained from Early Screening Profiles of four, five, and six year olds (n=183). Of five models tested, three produced results indicative of good fit. Findings support use of Greenspan's model for understanding nature of developing abilities in young children and for improvement of…

Pearson product-moment correlations were computed for selected subtests of The Gesell Developmental Test and The Meeting Street School Screening Test. The selected subtests are moderately correlated, suggesting that either test might be used in a battery. (Author)