A single test score gives a very limited picture of how a student is progressing. One of the fundamental principles of Track My Progress is using multiple data points over time to get a fuller picture of how a student is progressing and using that fuller picture to guide our educational decision-making for the student.

Let's look at an example from Track My Progress data. In the graph below, you see the math test of a student tested in the fall of third grade. She has a percentile score of 56. Based on this school's Response to Intervention protocol, the score is borderline (below the 59th percentile).

Fortunately, this is not the only test score this school has for the student. The graph below includes all data points and provides a different picture of how this student is progressing.

When we see seven data points, instead of the one presented initially, we see a more complete story about how the student is progressing, which could lead to some different educational decisions than when we only use one data point. The student's 56th percentile score in the fall of third grade may be concerning at first. Subsequent assessments reveal this student scores consistently between the 71st and 77th percentile over six assessments, and there is no reason for concern.

Sometimes, we do not have multiple data points over a period of years, and we must respond to a student's needs and make a decision on whether additional or differentiated instruction is required. However, we always have additional data points when we consider sources like attendance, class participation, homework quality, and class quiz scores. The principal is to always coordinate data with other sources and, when possible, progress over time data to get a fuller picture of student progress.