Universal Screener Assessments vs Summative Assessments vs Progress Monitoring Assessments

There is often a lot of confusion over using assessment data in effective Response to Intervention (RTI) / Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) practices. Largely because each assessment type has a different function.

What Are the Different Assessment Types Within Response to Intervention (RTI) / Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)?

1. Summative Assessments

Summative assessments are administered to all students annually to determine students’ mastery of grade-level standards and provide educators with information about adequate yearly progress at site and district levels.

2. Universal Screening Assessments

Universal screening assessments are administered to all students three times per year to proactively and objectively identify which students are potentially in need of educational supports/enhancements to supplement the core curriculum.

Furthermore, universal screening data is evaluated to ensure the core curriculum results in success for a sufficient percentage of students. These assessments should be nationally or state-normed and predictive of performance on summative assessments.

2. Progress Monitoring Assessments

Progress monitoring assessments are given to students receiving intervention support and are administered weekly or every other week, depending on the intensity of need. These data should come from Curriculum-Based Measurements (CBMs) because they provide a reliable and valid measure of students’ growth in a particular skill area.

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