Margaret J. Kay, Ed.D. NCSP
Educational Psychologist

Margaret J. Kay, Ed.D. Psychologist
Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist
Pennsylvania Certified School Psychologist
 

2818 Lititz Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601-3322
Phone:  (717) 569-6223
FAX: (717) 560-9931
EMAIL:
MJK@MargaretKay.com

Specializing in the recognition and understanding of individual differences.

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Progress Monitoring

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Several education based photos surrounding the IDEA Partnership logo. Also displayed are the phrases Early Childhood Providers, Teachers, Families, Youth, Policymakers, Administrators, Advocates, Related Service Providers.


What is Progress Monitoring?

Progress monitoring is a scientifically based practice that is used to assess students’ academic performance and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. Progress monitoring can be implemented with individual students or an entire class.

How does Progress Monitoring work?

To implement progress monitoring, the student’s current levels of performance are determined and goals are identified for learning that will take place over time. The student’s academic performance is measured on a regular basis (weekly or monthly). Progress toward meeting the student’s goals is measured by comparing expected and actual rates of learning. Based on these measurements, teaching is adjusted as needed. Thus, the student’s progression of achievement is monitored and instructional techniques are adjusted to meet the individual students learning needs.

What are the benefits of Progress Monitoring?

When progress monitoring is implemented correctly, the benefits are great for everyone involved. Some benefits include:

  • accelerated learning because students are receiving more appropriate instruction;
  • more informed instructional decisions;
  • documentation of student progress for accountability purposes;
  • more efficient communication with families and other professionals about students’ progress;
  • higher expectations for students by teachers; and
  • fewer Special Education referrals.

Overall, the use of progress monitoring results in more efficient and appropriately targeted instructional techniques and goals, which together, move all students to faster attainment of important state standards of achievement.

Who should be practicing Progress Monitoring?

Anyone who is interested in improving results for children should be implementing progress monitoring. Whether you are a regular educator, special educator, related service provider, administrator, or family member, you should be interested in implementing research-based progress monitoring practices.

What challenges face Progress Monitoring?

  • Educators and families need information about the effectiveness of progress monitoring that would encourage them to adopt the practice.
  • Teachers and other practitioners need support in translating progress monitoring research into easily implemented, usable strategies.
  • Technical assistance on progress monitoring must transfer knowledge in ways that accommodate differences in background, training, and beliefs, as well as differences in the nature and philosophy of the instructional programs and practices already in place.
  • This information dissemination must take place in a variety of formats, in usable forms, and at different levels of specificity.

Are there other names for Progress Monitoring?

Progress monitoring is a relatively new term. Some other terms you may be more familiar with are Curriculum Based Measurement and Curriculum Based Assessment. Whatever method you decide to use, it is most important that you ensure it is a scientifically based practice that is supported by significant research.


AIMSweb
Progress Monitoring and Response to Intervention System

AIMSweb® is a scientifically based, formative assessment system that 'informs' the teaching and learning process by providing continuous student performance data and reporting improvement to parents, teachers, and administrators to enable evidence-based evaluation and data-driven instruction.

AIMSweb provides its users the assessment materials and ability to organize and report Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) - standardized measures of basic skills - including reading, early literacy, early numeracy, mathematics, spelling, and written expression. CBM is an approved set of testing practices based on over 25 years of federally funded research and has been reviewed as meeting professional assessment standards by the Reading First Assessment Committee and the National Center on Student Progress Monitoring. AIMSweb also has the capacity to organize and report early developmental skills and user defined measures.

AIMSweb reports CBM or DIBELS student progress in a 3-Tier Problem-Solving model, including Response-to-Intervention (RTI), through web-based data management and reporting applications to provide a proactive and preventive solution for universal screening and progress monitoring for general education, strategic assessment for remedial programs or at risk, and intensive progress monitoring, including IEP goals for students with severe achievement problems.

AIMSweb - The Leader in Progress Monitoring and Improvement Systems


Learning Disabilities Resource Kit

Early Intervention and Response to Intervention Evaluating if a Program is Research-Based
RTI and LD Identification Executive Summary Getting Started with LD Determination
Publications Parent Involvement in School Improvement
Educators FAQ on Response to Intervention Resource List for LD and RTI
RTI How to do It RTI Brief
RTI Digest RTI in SLD Identification
RTI Research to Practice RTI Screening Tool
SLD Overview Students with SLD 2007
Who is a Student with a Learning Disability? What is Progress Monitoring?
What is RTI? Identifying SLD
Implementing Change RTI Overview Presentation
Tier Two Interventions Topical Forum

This site was designed by Margaret J. Kay, Ed.D.  Its contents are presented for informational and educational purposes only and are not to be construed as professional advice on medical, legal, technical or therapeutic matters.  By using and accessing the information on this site, you agree to waive any rights to hold the site developer, or any individual and/or group associated with this site, liable for any damage that may result from the use of the information presented here.

© Copyright 2007-2008 Margaret J. Kay. All rights reserved.

The copyright of design, text and images on this web site is owned by Margaret J. Kay or the individual copyright owners as noted elsewhere on this site.  You may download and reprint articles from this web site for non-commercial, private, educational purposes only.  You may not in any way modify, or publicly distribute, any information contained within this site without specific permission form the copyright owner.

Send mail to MJK@MargaretKay.com with questions or comments about this web site.

Last modified: September 22, 2008