Children benefit from having their existing and unenriched potential and struggles alike evaluated prior to their entering a public school setting. These screenings do not exist to pre-judge or assert any long term conclusions about a child’s overall ability to succeed in a classroom setting in the future. On the contrary, they are intended to help determine which, if any, speech, language, social, behavioral, and even health concerns are present in the child, and how best to preemptively construct environments in which children’s needs are met and challenges are not left to fester in classrooms.
The goal of these screenings and the function of the information they generate is to find a way for children who need extra assistance or specialized learning help to receive it, if possible, prior to their entrance into school. This way, they are able to learn and grow in the same way as other children their age and academic level.
Some of the other things that preschool screening is useful to check up on are hearing abilities, sight issues, and coordination control. These potential concerns can be addressed medically prior to a student starting their educational career. Strangely enough, many parents and loved ones of younger children find the time of these screenings to be some of the first indications that their child may have some sort of visual, hearing, or coordination impairment. It is a great relief to most to either have their suspicions confirmed or to be informed of their child’s precise condition. This allows them to access the tools they need to help their child find the help they require and eventually learn alongside their peers undeterred by whatever it is they struggle with.