The FAPE Site

NEA Helps Develop Assessment of
Student Academic Growth

NEA has partnered with the American Institutes for Research in the development of the federally funded  National Center for Progress Monitoring.

The Center's mission is to provide technical assistance and professional development to states and districts about the use of ongoing curriculum-based assessment to measure and monitor student academic growth -- particularly in reading and mathematics.

One of the Center's first projects is to sponsor a training conference July 22-23 in Washington, D.C. The institute will focus on student progress monitoring for reading.

Because NEA is a partner organization, NEA members are eligible for a special discount registration fee of only $69. NEA members can register online.

Progress Monitoring Helps Target Instruction

Progress monitoring is a scientifically based, but underutilized practice that is used to assess students’ academic performance and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction and instructional interventions.

Used with an individual student or an entire class, progress monitoring results in more efficiently targeted instructional techniques and goals, which together move students to faster attainment of important state standards of achievement.

Last fall, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs funded a national technical assistance and dissemination center dedicated to the implementation of scientifically based student progress monitoring for grades K-5.

Located at the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C., the Center works in conjunction with experts at Vanderbilt University, a National Advisory Committee, a Technical Review Committee, and key association partners, including NEA.

NEA, Other Partners Help Assess, Promote

The Center's National Advisory Committee provides insights into the process for scaling up student progress monitoring. The Technical Review Committee performs an important role in evaluating the scientific rigor of student progress monitoring models and materials to ensure that the information provided by the Center focuses on scientifically based practices. Association Partners help the Center in assessing and promoting the implementation of Progress Monitoring.     

NEA members are invited to frequently visit the Center’s Web site to find answers to frequently asked questions, discover further details about implementing progress monitoring, access related links, and more.     

NEA members also are encouraged to share information with the Center about student progress monitoring practices that they are implementing, as well as useful information and resources. To contact the Center, send e-mail messages to  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .