Orange Early Childhood Center

Office of Early Childhood Education

 Child Assessment Summary

 The Orange Public School Administration and the Board of Education selected the High/Scope Child Observation Record (COR) as the performance-based assessment model for all district and community preschool classrooms. This research- based model promotes a high-quality preschool educational program and it is approved by the state of New Jersey Department of Education – Division of Early Childhood Education.

The COR – According to High/Scope, educators of young children must be able to monitor progress in a developmentally appropriate way.  Effective assessment helps teachers monitor children’s progress.  It also assists teachers with developing appropriate activities/lessons for them.  Teachers will analyze the assessment data and based on that information, they will develop/create activities/lessons for the children (individual children, small groups of children or a large group of children).

The Preschool COR assessment is based on six child development categories that represent broad domains of child development:

Initiative

Social Relations

Creative Representation

Movement and Music

Language and Literacy

Mathematics and Science

How does the COR work?  The teaching staff spend a few minutes each day writing brief notes that describe what children say & do and how they behave in various situations. The COR is completed in the course of everyday activities, and is a true reflection on what the children can do.  Therefore, the assessment is seamlessly integrated with teaching and planning.  Teachers compile and analyze the notes to provide a comprehensive portrait of each child’s developmental gains as well as the progress of the group as a whole.  The information gained will assist teachers with planning appropriate activities/lessons for the children.

Highlights of the COR

Requires no change in the children’s daily routine

Focuses on what children can do, not on what they cannot do

Is effective in multicultural and multilingual centers

Is effective in assessing children with special needs

Provides a framework for communicating with parents