Assessments are the planned and systematic process of observing, recording, and documenting what children do and how they do it. Teachers then analyze the information as a basis for a variety of educational decisions that affect the child, including determining the child’s interests and needs. Informal assessments occur every day through observation and work sampling.

Assessments span across the four developmental domains: social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language. There is a strong teacher-parent partnership with observational recording. GCDC utilizes a web-based portfolio system to manage each child’s portfolio and to develop individual learning plans. Families can access their child’s portfolio at any time via the web. The results of assessments are used to adapt and improve the curriculum, as well as to develop specific teaching approaches and practices and to refine instructional strategies to meet the individual needs of the children.

The results are also used to provide the optimal learning environment and to inform and assess overall program development and improvement. Assessments may also be used to arrange for developmental screening and referral for diagnostic evaluation for a child when indicated.