Advantages of progress monitoring over annual achievement tests

Advantages of progress monitoring over annual achievement tests
By Brian E. Mac Farlane, MA.Ed

The first advantage of using progress monitoring over annual monitoring is how it allows teachers to estimate the student rates of improvement verses rates of growth. Therefore, when teachers use progress monitoring it provides vital feedback on the skills currently being taught verses all the skills of a particular unit of study. A second advantage of progress monitoring over an annual achievement test is how it identifies students who are not making satisfactory progress and who need additional or alterative instruction. Finally, the third advantage of progress monitoring over annual achievement test is how it evaluates the effectiveness of instruction so that teachers can create better instructional programs.

Key differences between mastery measurement and CBM Mastery : 

Measurement corresponds to a precise point on the CBM yearlong continuum, so it provides student assessment data related to a specific lesson plan objective. Similarly, a Mastery Measurement Assessment is a based on a pre-planned instructional sequence for the year, but CBM skills can be taught in any logical order.

There are three common ways CBM can be used to help high-risk students:

1.     CBM can help identify those skills in which students may have the greatest challenge.

2.     CBM can support the process of identifying those students who are not making progress in a general education setting.

3.     CBM can track the student progress towards their IEP goals

Six Steps CBM Process

Step 1: Create or select appropriate tests (called probes) for the student's grade and skill level.

Step 2: Administer and score probes at regular intervals (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly).

Step 3: Graph the scores. Graphing is an integral part of using CBM.

Step 4: Set goals. It is crucial to indicate the expected level of proficiency that students will demonstrate by the end of the school year and the amount of growth expected in shorter periods of time (e.g., weekly goals).

Step 5: Make instructional decisions based on CBM data.

Step 6: Communicate the progress by providing students, parents, and other educational professionals with information about student growth throughout the school year.  Step six is accomplished when the teacher use CBM data and graphs to support their communication with students, parents, and other education professionals.