A 1987 publication of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), "Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8" (DAP), postulated that programs for young children should be based on a balance between expectations for age level and individual differences. The present document reports the results of research that addressed two questions concerning the NAEYC publication: (1) Does DAP have value as a self-assessment instrument for early childhood practitioners? and (2) To what extent do early childhood practitioners agree with NAEYC's judgments of appropriateness and inappropriateness? Lists of either 23 or 37 items paired as appropriate-inappropriate criteria in DAP were used as the source texts of a survey instrument. Data were collected from 16 kindergarten and 33 primary teachers (out of 24 kindergarten and 66 primary teachers who received the instrument). On a 7-point scale ranging from "appropriate" to "inappropriate" for each item, respondents marked where their practices fell and where they would like their practices to fall. Results revealed kindergarten teachers' predilection for teacher-centered, whole group, and passive learner instruction; and primary teachers' preference for grades, regular testing, retention, and report cards. The fact that 88 percent of kindergarten teachers' item responses and 73 percent of primary teachers' item responses indicated a desire for change implies that DAP has value as a self-assessment tool. (8 tables) (BC)