                  CHAPTER 68--NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM
 
  SUBCHAPTER II--NATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM LEADERSHIP, STANDARDS, AND 
                               ASSESSMENTS
 
                 Part A--National Education Goals Panel
 
Sec. 5827. Early childhood assessment


(a) In general

    The Goals Panel shall support the work of its Resource and Technical 
Planning Groups on School Readiness (hereafter in this section referred 
to as the ``Groups'') to improve the methods of assessing the readiness 
of children for school that would lead to alternatives to currently used 
early childhood assessments.

(b) Activities

    The Groups shall--
        (1) develop a model of elements of school readiness that address 
    a broad range of early childhood developmental needs, including the 
    needs of children with disabilities;
        (2) create clear guidelines regarding the nature, functions, and 
    uses of early childhood assessments, including assessment formats 
    that are appropriate for use in culturally and linguistically 
    diverse communities, based on model elements of school readiness;
        (3) monitor and evaluate early childhood assessments, including 
    the ability of existing assessments to provide valid information on 
    the readiness of children for school; and
        (4) monitor and report on the long-term collection of data on 
    the status of young children to improve policy and practice, 
    including the need for new sources of data necessary to assess the 
    broad range of early childhood developmental needs.

(c) Advice

    The Groups shall advise and assist the Congress, the Secretary, the 
Goals Panel, and others regarding how to improve the assessment of young 
children and how such assessments can improve services to children.

(d) Report

    The Goals Panel shall provide reports on the work of the Groups to 
the appropriate committees of the Congress, the Secretary, and the 
public.

(Pub. L. 103-227, title II, Sec. 207, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 138.)
