During the meetings, experts on early childhood assessment, measurement, and early childhood programs presented research to the task force. Task force members interacted with questions, answers, and discussion about a wide variety of related topics. The task force explored ideas related to assessment, such as: -Considering current practices in early childhood assessment; -Reviewing school readiness indicators; -Considering characteristics of quality assessment; and -Discussing criteria for reviewing assessments. Finally, the task force set forth the following purposes of assessment: -Provide educators with information on the skills and growth of individual children to inform instruction; and -Provide the state and school districts with data to inform instruction and professional development. (author abstract)