Designing equity‐centered early learning assessments for today's young children

In this article, we adopt culturally relevant perspectives on developmental science that acknowledge and value the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of young children and their families to identify opportunities to advance the measurement of early childhood development. We focus on direct child assessments that can drive more equitable early learning experiences and outcomes by informing the work of educators and program‐ and system‐level decision‐makers. Specifically, we describe potential advancements in the content (what is measured), method (how assessments are conducted), and output (how data are presented) of early learning assessments. Throughout, we highlight opportunities to elevate the experiences of those who use assessment—children, families, educators, and administrators—to develop equity‐centered, engaging assessments that provide comprehensive, fair, and useful insights.