The ECLS-K collects information from children and their parents, teachers, and schools. Data are collected in a variety of formats, including one-on-one assessments, computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI), and self-administered paper and pencil questionnaires.
The ECLS-K collects information from children, parents, teachers, and schools.
To collect information from children, a trained assessor visits the children in their schools. Children are assessed, un-timed, one-on-one at their school. The direct child assessment collects information about children's reading and mathematics skills and knowledge, their general knowledge (i.e., science and social studies) in kindergarten and first grade, and their science knowledge in third, fifth, and eighth grade. In addition, the assessment includes measurements of height/weight, and in fall kindergarten only, children's psychomotor skills (e.g. hopping, skipping, jumping, manipulating blocks, drawing figures) are assessed. In the third, fifth and eighth grades, children complete questionnaires on various topics including perceptions of competence and skills, school experiences and activities, and diet.
To collect information from parents, a trained interviewer phones the parent at their home and conducts a 45-50 minute interview. Computer assisted interviewing methods are used to record the parent's answers. If the child's family does not have a telephone, the interview is conducted in person.
To collect information from teachers and schools, teachers and school administrators complete paper and pencil surveys.
The ECLS-K strives to include all children and their families. Materials and procedures were developed to maximize the inclusion of children and families whose primary language is not English, and children with special needs. Both the parent interview and the direct Kindergarten-First grade child assessment math battery are translated into Spanish. If parents feel more comfortable in a language other than English or Spanish, translators are utilized when available. Questionnaires designed to collect information regarding a child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and receipt of special education services are completed by the special education teachers/service providers of children with disabilities. Only children who required Braille or sign language to complete the direct cognitive assessment, or whose Individualized Education Plan/Individualized Family Service Plan specifically indicated the child should not be assessed were excluded from the direct child assessment.
