Improving Measurement Efficiency of the Early Learning and Development Standard Assessment Tool in Nepal

The Early Learning and Development Standard (ELDS) Assessment Tool is a valuable tool to measure early childhood development (ECD) outcomes for large-scale monitoring and evaluation purposes in Nepal. However, its potential impacts on policymaking have been limited by practical challenges derived from its time-consuming nature, which hindered efficient data collection at scale. The purpose of this study is to improve the efficiency of the tool by utilizing a multidimensional framework proposed by Seiden (2024). We analyzed a unique dataset collected in Nepal and selected a set of items that optimizes the balance between reliability (statistical), content relevance and representativeness (conceptual), and administrative efficiency (practical) dimensions of the tool. We compared the efficient form suggested by the multidimensional framework with a conventional approach that relied solely on the statistical dimension and discussed the implications of the results. Our findings highlight the importance of considering multiple dimensions when selecting items for an assessment tool, as the conventional approach may not necessarily select the most appropriate items. This study's results can inform the development of efficient ECD measurement and improve policymaking decisions based on high-quality evidence generated from precise and efficient measurements.