In today's climate of increased accountability and diversity, alternative assessments for young children are more important than ever. That's why the timely NEW edition of this bestselling textbook is a must for all educators as they prepare to work with children who are culturally, linguistically, or developmentally diverse. Developed by top authorities in early childhood special education and widely adopted since its first edition was published in 2001, this introductory text has been carefully updated to reflect 10 years of evolution in demographics, research, technology, and legislation. Pre- and in-service educators of children birth-8 years will learn about six popular alternative assessment methods: naturalistic, focused, performance, portfolio, dynamic, and curriculum-based languageexplore the advantages and limitations of each approacheffectively link assessment with intervention [NEW CHAPTER!]get clear and specific guidelines for before, during, and after assessmentcollaborate and reach consensus with familiessee assessment methods in action with vivid vignettes of children with diverse needsdiscover successful strategies for teaching in inclusive environmentsimplement a transdisciplinary framework to ensure comprehensive, multidimensional assessment approaches With the improved student-friendly features-such as chapter review questions, in-depth case studies, a glossary, and a new sample syllabus-college and university instructors will find this text ideal for introducing preservice educators to the fundamentals of alternative assessments. And the NEW CD-ROM makes this book an invaluable resource beyond the classroom, with more than 2 dozen printable forms for data collection, observation, progress monitoring, IEP/IFSP development, and more. Grounded in the most current research and best practices, this essential new edition will help pre- and in-service educators capture the full picture of all young children's strengths and needs and provide them with appropriate, individualized instruction.