What is the primary purpose of progress monitoring in an assessment system?

• A. Inform immediate instruction
• B. Evaluate curriculum annually
• C. Track growth over time to gauge mastery
• D. Assign grades

Answer: (C)

Progress monitoring is about gathering frequent, targeted measures of a student’s performance on specific skills to see how they grow over time. By collecting multiple data points, you can track trends and determine whether the student is moving toward mastery and how quickly. This ongoing data informs timely instructional decisions and supports interventions when progress slows, which is central to responsive teaching and MTSS approaches.

While progress monitoring can inform instruction, its primary role is not just to guide immediate lessons or to serve as an annual checklist for curriculum, nor is it primarily about assigning grades. It is about building a clear picture of growth over time to gauge mastery and adapt supports as needed.