Municipal evaluation of early childhood education: contributions to guarantee the right to education of Brazilian children?

Author(s)

Cláudia Oliveira Pimenta

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Educação (FE/SBD)
• Defense date: 2017-06-06

Examining board members

Sandra Maria Zákia Lian Sousa; Ocimar Munhoz Alavarse; Maria Machado Malta Campos; Gizele de Souza; Lívia Maria Fraga Vieira

• Advisor: Sandra Maria Zákia Lian Sousa

Abstract

The growing relevance of debate on Early Childhood Education evaluation in Brazil, the resulting formulation of proposals elaborated by the federal government and municipal governments, in addition to those outlined by civil society institutions, motivated us to develop the present study of qualitative and exploratory character, with the objective of analyzing initiatives implemented by Brazilian municipalities, especially by municipalities in the state of São Paulo, with the purpose of highlighting their potential to contribute to the guarantee of the right of children to a quality public education. The study was developed in three interrelated stages: a) survey and analysis of the legal framework, which includes legislation and documents dealing with different aspects of early childhood education, published and/or supported by the Ministry of Education; Of the national academic production that discusses the quality of the services provided in kindergartens and preschools; Of foreign evaluation experiences of this educational stage; b) systematization of data on initiatives to Early Childhood Education evaluation conducted by Brazilian municipalities; c) survey, characterization and analysis of proposals in force in municipalities of the state of São Paulo. The examination of these references subsidized the establishment of benchmarks elements for the elaboration of indicators concerning characteristics considered relevant for the formulation of evaluations aimed at the Early Childhood Education. Based on these criteria, the analysis of ongoing initiatives was carried out in 42 municipalities of the state of São Paulo. The results indicate the preponderance of evaluative designs with a focus on children\'s development and learning. As for evaluation initiatives of preschool, it has been found that they are usually elaborated by the central department of education and tend to emphasize the evaluation of reading and writing skills in order to evaluate the childrens learning process. However, a diversity in the proposals was identified, especially regarding the participation of educational establishments and the education department in the design and conduction of evaluations. In addition to the focus on evaluating children, initiatives have been identified that encompass other dimensions in the evaluation of the stage and that adopt processes of institutional self-evaluation combined with external evaluation initiatives. These propositions are those which seem to be moving towards ensuring the right to education of young children. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/15198-6 - Evaluation initiatives quality of Early Childhood Education, under way in Brazil: implications, tensions and contributions to the guarantee of the right to young children's education
• Grantee: Cláudia Oliveira Pimenta
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate