Assessment

Assessments are designed to determine the student's abilities and needs in relevant aspects of the curriculum and instruction. Educators need this essential tool to guide day-to-day instruction. The range of assessments may range from classroom assessment practices all the way to district and statewide assessment programs. Regular progress monitoring provides valuable information on teaching effectiveness, and is the basis for informed instructional decisions.

Assessment is an integral part of mathematics instruction. An effective, comprehensive, mathematics program includes four different types of assessments:

1. Outcome assessments that provide a bottom-line evaluation of the effectiveness of the mathematics program
2. Screening assessments that are administered to determine which students are at risk for mathematics difficulty and who will need additional intervention
3. Diagnosis assessments that help teachers plan instruction by providing in-depth information about students' skills and instructional needs
4. Progress Monitoring assessments that determine if students are making adequate progress or need more intervention to achieve intended mathematics outcomes