What is a key characteristic of progress monitoring assessments?

Progress monitoring assessments are designed to document changes over time in response to instruction. This characteristic is crucial because it allows educators to track a student's academic performance and understanding on a continuous basis, rather than evaluating them at a single point in time. By regularly assessing a student, instructors can identify patterns in learning, evaluate the effectiveness of different instructional strategies, and make informed decisions about necessary adjustments to support the student's progress.

This ongoing assessment process is particularly important for students who may struggle with specific learning challenges, as it provides timely feedback that helps educators tailor their teaching methods to better meet individual needs. By focusing on growth and responsiveness to instructional methods, progress monitoring supports a dynamic learning environment that promotes continuous improvement.

Other options do not align with this key characteristic. For example, administering assessments only once a year does not capture the changes that occur over time and misses the opportunity for timely instructional adjustments. Measuring solely standardized test results overlooks the broader range of skills and knowledge that can be assessed through various progress monitoring tools. Focusing on tests in isolation fails to recognize the importance of context and the accumulation of data over time, which is essential for a comprehensive understanding of a student’s progress.