Progress Monitoring is a process in which data is collected and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of instructional practices, and then used to make strategic changes in instruction to increase students' skill or standard mastery.

To Progress Monitor:

• The teacher selects a specific skill or learning standard to teach and assess for a whole class, small group, or individual student.
• Next, the student(s) are assessed to identify strengths and gaps within the skill or standard; this information is used to generate a timed, measurable learning target or goal.
• Then, during pre-identified intervals (e.g., quarterly, after each lesson, at the end of a unit), the teacher re-assesses the student(s) to measure the progress they have made.
• If progress has been demonstrated, the data is used to help identify which instructional practices are effective, and the teacher may choose to increase the criteria for mastery (e.g., 80% accuracy to 90% accuracy).
• If progress has not been demonstrated, the teacher analyzes the data to identify how to best change instruction in order to improve outcomes (e.g., identify opportunities for re-teaching, select different instructional interventions).

Data collection for Progress Monitoring can take various forms, including using curriculum based assessments (e.g., teacher-created assessments, rubric-scored projects), criterion-referenced tests (e.g., state standardized assessments, Advanced Placement Exams), or behavior charting (e.g. task analysis, ABC data, frequency data).