Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment System (GOLD) is a formative assessment system that has been designed and validated for use with young children ages birth to kindergarten. The measure yields information that is rooted in the ongoing work of teachers as they develop and collect evidences that are used to identify the best fits for each child across a series of developmental progressions. Teachers collect ongoing portfolios of evidences throughout the academic year, reflect upon and analyze those evidences, make preliminary ratings on an ongoing basis, and finalize ratings at specified points during the year. This information is intended to be used to inform instruction and to facilitate communication with parents and other stakeholders. In contrast to direct assessments, evidences are collected within regular activities in natural classroom contexts. The GOLD system helps teachers understand and observe child progress, plan instruction, and scaffold and support child growth and development. In addition, the process of evidence formation and collection directly involves young children in dialogue with teachers about their developmental progress.