Early Identification Leads to Early Intervention with the WJ IV ECAD and WIIIP (Clone)

The WJ IV™ suite of assessments includes a dedicated battery of early development tests that identify the emergence of foundational cognitive abilities and skills (the WJ IV Tests of Early Cognitive and Academic Development [WJ IV ECAD®]; Schrank, McGrew, & Mather, 2015) that is aligned with cognitive developmental supports and interventions (the WJIV Interpretation and Instructional Interventions Program™ [WIIIP®]; Schrank & Wendling, 2015). ECAD helps school psychologists identify learning needs during a critical window of development when targeted interventions can reduce or even eliminate cognitive delay. WIIIP aligns needs identified by ECAD with individualized educational plans, instructional activities, and strategies. 

School psychologists who have responsibilities at the preschool and K–1 levels advised the WJ IV authors of a need for a dedicated, age-appropriate assessment battery that could be directly translated into targeted instructional practices and specialized interventions. In response, ECAD was created to help identify early learning needs or delays in areas of cognitive development. When used in conjunction with WIIIP, ECAD helps school psychologists align any delays or needs identified among areas of cognition and emergent school-readiness skills with developmental interventions and evidence-based instructional programming that helps facilitate transitions to increasingly rigorous educational demands, particularly toward the acquisition of abilities and skills that are required for successful performance in Kindergarten and the early grades.

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