Progress Monitoring of Special
Education Students
Dr. Deirdre J. Osypuk
Director SSS
Bloomfield Public Schools
Aimsweb Assessments
Reading Decoding
R-CBM (Oral Reading Fluency), LNF, LSF
Math Calculation
OC, NI, QD, MN, MC
Instructional Level
 Progress monitoring of students in special



education uses probes that are at the
individual’s instructional level NOT at their grade
level.
Instructional levels only need to be determined
for students new to progress monitoring.
There is no need to establish an instructional
level for students who are already in progress
monitoring. Instead, just continue from where
they left off.
An instructional level cannot be established for
students in Grade K b/c there are no probes at
the PK level. Instead, you establish a baseline
with Grade K probes.
Norms and Instructional and
Mastery Levels
• Norms:
– Fall (Sept-Dec)
– Winter (Jan-Mar)
– Spring (Apr-June)
• Instructional Level =
•
– > 50th percentile, but < 75th percentile
Mastery Level = > 75th percentile
Establishing Baseline in Grade K
• Baseline is established by administering 1
LNF, OC, NI, *QD, and *MN
• *Only administer QD and MN if student
scores > 25th percentile
Establishing Instructional Level
Grade 1
1. Administer 3 R-CBM and 1 LNF, LSF, OC, NI, *MN, and *QD
probes at the grade level you believe the student is currently
functioning. *Only administer MN and QD if student scores >
25th percentile.
2. Using the norms from the current season, if the student’s
median (middle) score (R-CBM) or single score (LNF, LSF, OC,
NI, MN, QD) is:
a. > 50th percentile, but < 75th percentile – this is student’s
instructional level
b. < 50th percentile, then administer probes at next lowest
grade level until you reach the grade level at which student
scores > 50th percentile, but < 75th percentile
c. > 75th percentile, then administer probes at the next highest
grade level until you reach the grade level at which student
scores > 50th percentile, but < 75th percentile
3. Baseline scores = median (middle) scores from R-CBM and
single scores from LNF, LSF, OC, NI, MN, QD instructional level
probes administered
Establishing Instructional Levels
Grades 2-8
1. Administer 3 R-CBM and 3 MC probes at the grade level you
believe the student is currently functioning.
2. Using the norms from the current season, if the student’s
median (middle) score is:
a. > 50th percentile, but < 75th percentile – this is student’s
instructional level
b. < 50th percentile, then administer probes at next lowest grade
level until you reach the grade level at which student scores >
50th percentile, but < 75th percentile
c. > 75th percentile, then administer probes at the next highest
grade level until you reach the grade level at which student
scores > 50th percentile, but < 75th percentile
3. Baseline scores = median (middle) scores from R-CBM
instructional level probes administered
Reading Progress Monitoring
IEP Goals/Objectives
Math Progress Monitoring IEP
Goals/Objectives
Graphing Progress
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•
•
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X axis (horizontal) = Progress Monitoring Sessions
Y axis (vertical) = Scores
Plot baseline scores
Each graph should represent only 1 grade level and 1 type of probe
Plot baseline and initial goal (75th percentile; Spring)
Once student meets initial goal, start a new graph and plot 1st score
and end goal (50th percentile) in the next grade level probe
Decision Rules for Progress
Monitoring Data
 Must progress monitor and graph every two

weeks.
Use 5-point rule to analyze effectiveness of
instructional intervention:
A. If 5 most recent consecutive scores are all above
the goal-line, continue with current instructional
intervention.
B. If 5 most recent consecutive scores are all below
the goal-line, change the instructional intervention.
C. If 5 most recent consecutive scores are neither all
above or all below the goal-line, keep the current
instructional intervention.
Graphing Examples
• 5th grader whose instructional level in the
Fall is at 3rd grade in Math Computation
• Median (middle) baseline MC score = 16,
which places him at 3rd grade,
50thpercentile, Fall
• Initial Goal = 37, which would place him
at 3rd grade, 75th percentile, Spring
• End Goal = 34, which would place him at
4th grade, 50th percentile, Fall
Sample Graph Part 1
Sample Graph Part 2