IPC® Education Platform
Formative Assessment Schedule
How and when teachers observe, record and share children's progress during the school year.
Three checkpoints each year
September (weeks 4-6)
Fall baseline
Score every indicator for the child's level after a settling-in period. Start the portfolio with 2-3 work samples per domain.
January
Winter checkpoint
Re-score all indicators, compare with the baseline and update goals. Hold the first family conference.
May
Spring summary
Final scores, portfolio review and end-of-year report. Hold the second family conference and share transition notes.
Ongoing, every week
- Observations and anecdotal records: at least one per child each week, linked to a domain and indicator.
- Portfolio work samples: added throughout the year, with photos or files tagged to indicators.
- Learning stories: optional narratives shared with families.
- Planning: teachers use evidence to adjust activities and small-group support.
Scoring scale
| Level | Label | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beginning | Starting to understand concepts; needs significant adult support |
| 2 | Developing | Shows growing awareness; requires regular guidance and prompting |
| 3 | Approaching | Approaching age-appropriate expectations; works with some support |
| 4 | Meeting | Meets expectations; applies skills confidently and independently |
| 5 | Exceeding | Exceeds expectations; extends learning and helps others |
| 0 | Not Assessed | No evidence recorded yet for this period. |
Labels are available in English and Spanish.
Family conferences and reports
Conferences take place in January and May, and on request at any time. Each uses a structured record of strengths, goals, family input and agreed next steps, with signature lines. Progress reports can be downloaded as PDFs, and scores can be exported as spreadsheets for program review.