What Kind of Questions Will Children Be Asked on the NRS?

THE ASSESSMENT IS COMPOSED OF A SHORT SERIES OF ITEMS RELATED TO THE MANDATED OUTCOMES. The items are simple and interesting for preschoolers. There is an emphasis on tasks that relate to the acquisition of reading skills because reading is central to success in school and to later functioning in society. The assessment will take approximately 15 minutes per child. The items below are examples of the types of questions asked in the field test and in the full implementation of the NRS. They are not actual items from the NRS. Children whose primary language is Spanish and who do not attain the cutoff score in the English version of the first two sections of the assessment, will be given a Spanish version of the assessment. Children whose primary language is Spanish and who do attain the cutoff score in English will be given both the English and Spanish versions of the assessment. Children whose primary language is other than English or Spanish and who do not attain the cutoff score in the English version will not be assessed at this time. Additional information on the NRS may be obtained by contacting Tom Schultz, Head Start Bureau, E: tschultz@acf.dhhs.gov; T: 202-205-8323.

VOCABULARY addresses child outcomes in language development. This task is to assess understanding of words representing parts of the human body or their functions, activities of daily living, emotions and feelings, work-or career-related activities, and plants, animals, and their habitats. The estimated administration time is 5 minutes.

Now, I want you to look at some pictures with me. I'm going to say some words. For each word I say, point to the picture that best shows what the word means. Let's try some.
SHOW THE PICTURES AND SAY:
See all the pictures on this page?
POINT TO EACH OF THE FOUR PICTURES AND SAY:
I will say something; then I want you to put your finger on the picture of what I have said. Let's try one. Put your finger on "ball."
IF THE CHILD RESPONDS CORRECTLY WITHOUT HELP BY POINTING TO THE BALL IN QUADRANT 4 SAY:
Good! Let's try another one. Put your finger on " dog."
(SEE GRAPHIC BELOW)

EARLY MATH addresses child outcomes in numbers and operations. The math skills assessed include recognizing one-digit numerals and basic geometric shapes, solving word problems involving counting or simple addition or subtraction, and interpreting simple measurements. The estimated administration time is 3 minutes.

How many trees are on this page?
CORRECT: TWO (NONVERBAL RESPONSES ARE ACCEPTABLE)
(SEE GRAPHIC BELOW)

RUN YOUR FINGER ACROSS THE ITEM AND SAY:
If you gave a friend one of these apples, how many would you have left?
CORRECT: TWO (APPLES)
(SEE GRAPHIC BELOW)