Portfolio Assessment Strategies: An Investigation of Early Childhood Educators’ Perspectives and Practices in Türkiye and the United States

Portfolio is one of the most comprehensive and widespread methods of pedagogical documentation in early childhood education around the world. This study used a qualitative research design to investigate early childhood educators from Türkiye and the United States regarding their portfolio practices and views, and provide strategies for portfolio assessment based upon the findings. Data were collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews with 24 participating educators in a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool and a university preschool in both countries. Thematic analysis was employed while analyzing data, and the findings highlighted similarities within the same country, which indicates the influence of policy and cultural contexts on early childhood centers. As a result, the use of common strategies in the portfolio process was discussed as providing implications for the practices.