What is the primary focus of curriculum-based assessment?

The primary focus of curriculum-based assessment is progress monitoring. This assessment method is designed to evaluate how well students are learning the material presented in the curriculum over time. By using tools and strategies that align directly with instructional content, educators can gather data on students' learning and make informed decisions about instruction and support.

Progress monitoring allows educators to identify student strengths and weaknesses in real-time, adjusting their teaching methods as necessary to improve outcomes. The data gathered through curriculum-based assessments can help in recognizing trends in student performance, which can inform interventions tailored to individual student needs. This ongoing assessment aligns closely with the dynamic nature of learning and teaching, promoting adaptive educational strategies.

In contrast, summative evaluation typically occurs at the end of an instructional period and is primarily focused on measuring student learning outcomes rather than ongoing progress. Similarly, standardized testing often assesses a broad range of skills in a uniform manner but may not reflect the specific curriculum being taught. Performance evaluation, while important, tends to focus more on the assessment of specific tasks or skills rather than continuous learning tracked through the curriculum.