What is the purpose of progress monitoring in reading interventions?

• A. Progress monitoring is used to assign final grades.
• B. Progress monitoring tracks student growth over time toward defined targets.
• C. Progress monitoring determines teacher salaries.
• D. Progress monitoring is used to collect data and adjust instruction based on progress.

Answer: (D)

Regular data collection to guide instruction is what progress monitoring is all about in reading interventions. By doing quick, frequent checks, teachers see how a student is growing toward defined targets over time. This information isn’t used for final grades or salaries; instead, it shows whether the current intervention is helping and signals when changes are needed—like adjusting strategies, increasing practice, or shifting targets. While tracking growth toward targets is part of what progress monitoring does, the main purpose is to collect data and use it to modify instruction to improve reading outcomes.