Last year we presented about the evolution of Latin School of Chicago’s lower school admissions process. In this year’s presentation, we will review the specific changes we made to the 24/25 admissions season and, in the spirit of Embracing Change, we will take a closer look at the resulting successes and challenges. This interactive session will encourage attendees to share in a conversation about early childhood and elementary assessment tools and best practices. Topics to be discussed include: - Assessment Tools: Bracken, FastBridge, and self-made materials - Parent Interviews: Use of AI for transcribing, summarizing, and removing biases for interviews - Play Dates: Successes and challenges of this model vs. child care center observations