Using Progress Monitoring Scoring Guidelines

When interpreting easyCBM results, it is important to refer to the percentile rank associated with a given raw score at the time of year the measure was administered. These percentile ranks are based on national norms, which are re-calculated and updated every five years. Because of the way percentile ranks work, performance at or near the 50th percentile rank can be interpreted as average performance for students in that grade level at that time of the year. Scores above the 50th percentile rank indicate performance above average for students in that grade at that time of the year, and scores below the 50th percentile rank indicate performance below average for students in that grade at that time of the year.

The Progress Monitoring Scoring Guidelines lists the10th, 25th, 50th, and 90th percentiles. We also offer an additional document called the Detailed Norms Table which lists every percentile. Both documents can be found under the Reports tab on your account dashboard.

To find them, go to the Reports tab and look in the upper right hand corner of the gray Reports and Analysis box, called Progress Monitoring Scoring Guidelines. We also provide a Detailed Norms Table.

Looking at the Progress Monitor Scoring Guidelines, here is how you find the percentile rank ‘goes with’ a particular score:

1. Find the measure you are interested in
2. Find the grade you are interested in
3. Find the "benchmark" season you are interested in
4. Find the "score" you are interested in (4th column in) or the "Percentile" you are interested in and
5. Look up the ‘Percentile" (if you were trying to figure out what specific percentile rank goes with a particular score) or
6. Look up the ‘Score’ (if you were trying to figure out what specific score goes with a particular percentile rank).

In the case of 5th grade student example, who took a 5th grade benchmark Vocabulary measure in the Fall, we take their correct total (15) and compare it to the 5th grade Fall Vocabulary chart in the guidelines. Here our student's score of 15 falls on the cusp of the 50th percentile. Ideally, a student score should fall at the 50th percentile for them to be considered performing on grade. If they are at the 50th percentile or above, no other testing in that area is needed until the next benchmark testing cycle. If they fall below the 50th percentile, then progress monitoring measures should be implemented. In this case you can decide to wait or progress monitor.