Webinar Title
Early Childhood Assessments: Utilization for Programmatic and Evaluative Purposes(1.5 CE/CPD)
Date and Time
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 2:30 – 4:00 pm CST
Learning Objectives
Following this webinar, attendees will be able to:
- Understand a variety of early childhood assessments and their potential uses.
- Understand how to utilize results for program improvement.
- Understand different ways of disseminating results to multiple audiences, including funders, educators, and parents.
Abstract
While early childhood assessments are frequently used as diagnostic tools, they also play a critical role in program improvement and evaluation. In this presentation, participants will be introduced to several early childhood assessments that examine language, pre-literacy skills, executive function, and social-emotional development through kindergarten entry. Examples of how data from the assessments have been used to inform classroom practices and to inform funders through program evaluation will be discussed. Dissemination practices for how to communicate results in an accessible manner to all stakeholders will also be shared.
Bio
Dr. Jolene Johnson is an associate professor and the director of education and child development for the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her evaluation and research focus on early childhood systems, PreK-12 student outcomes, after-school programs, two-generation programs, and social-emotional learning. Dr. Johnson has served as the principal investigator for several evaluation projects at the national, statewide, and local levels. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and an EdS in School Psychology, both from the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO).