What is progress monitoring in an IEP context and which tool is commonly used?

• A. Regularly measuring progress; Curriculum-Based Measurements (CBMs)
• B. Annual evaluation; standardized tests
• C. Observational notes
• D. Portfolio assessment only

Answer: (A)

Progress monitoring means regularly collecting data on a student’s current performance to track how they’re moving toward IEP goals and to adjust instruction as needed. The tool most commonly used for this purpose is Curriculum-Based Measurements, or CBMs. CBMs are brief, quick probes tied to the curriculum (for example, a short reading fluency task or a math computation probe) that are given frequently and plotted over time to show a student’s growth. This frequent, standardized data helps teachers see trends, determine if instruction is effective, and decide whether goals or supports need to be changed. In contrast, annual evaluations or standardized tests are too infrequent to guide day-to-day instruction, and while observational notes or portfolio samples can be informative, they don’t provide the same consistent, easily trackable data that CBMs offer.