DRDP© (2010): Desired Results Development Profile©
(California Department of Education, 2010)
The DRDP© (2010) is a naturalistic observation–based assessment tool developed for use by childcare providers, preschool teachers, family child care network specialists, and case managers in state–sponsored programs. The purpose of the instrument is to help teachers determine how each child is developing within the developmental domains of the state’s learning foundations for early care and education and CDE´s Desired Results for Children and Families. The desired results for children encompass seven developmental domains, including: Self and Social Development; Language and Literacy Development; English Language Development; Cognitive Development; Mathematical Development; Physical Development; and Health.
The Desired Results for children are:
- Children are personally and socially competent.
- Children are effective learners.
- Children show physical and motor competence.
- Children are safe and healthy.
The Desired Results for families are:
- Families support their children’s learning and development.
- Families achieve their goals.
The Desired Results (DR) system is composed of several components. The assessment component and centerpiece of the DR system is the Desired Results Developmental Profile© (DRDP©). The DRDP© is an observation-based assessment tool designed to be used by teachers to:
- observe, document, and reflect upon children’s development and progress in the program;
- plan curriculum for each child and the group based on their growth, development, abilities, and interests;
- share children’s progress with their families;
- develop plans for improvement in program practices and policies;
- share information with program administrators and advisory committees;
- support monitoring of program quality and provision of services by CDE.
In addition to the DRDP©, programs gather information on child and family progress and/or on program improvement using: a parent survey; an age–appropriate environmental rating scale; personnel information; and a compliance review.
At the classroom and program level, practitioners use this system to identify successes and needs for improvement within their classrooms and programs. Quality improvement activities are developed and targeted to address areas of improvement and benefit program participants. CDE also provides information and technical assistance to increase overall program quality.
The Desired Results Developmental Profile© (2010) has been aligned with the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1. State-funded preschools will be expected to fully implement the aligned DRDP© (2010) beginning July 2010. An overview of the DR system and information about the developmental profiles can be found on the Desired Result system Web site.
The Desired Results System also interfaces with a concurrent project, the Desired Results: Access for Children with Disabilities Project (DR access). The Desired Results access Project provides resources for special educators, administrators, and families to assist with understanding, implementing, and benefiting from the Desired Results Assessment System for preschool-age children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Additional resources available to support documentation related to the DRDP (2010), include:
Getting to Know You Through Observation (CDE, 2007), a DVD offering an introduction to the observation of young children in early childhood settings, as well as providing strategies for documentation, review, and reflection on children’s development and early childhood practices.
Watching My Child Grow (WestEd), a DVD for families, describes the Desired Results System and its benefits for children and families from the voices of parents.
For additional forms and materials related to this initiative, including the Getting to Know You Through Observation Trainer’s Guide and the Training Workbook, visit the Desired Results Training and Technical Assistance Project Web site. Helpful resources, including: the Desired Results forms, DRDP (2010), updates, commonly asked questions, and practitioner training support also are available.