Does a score below grade level on PM1 or PM2 mean a student will not succeed by the end of the year?

• A. Yes, it guarantees failure.
• B. It means the student will be promoted automatically.
• C. It indicates the student is at maximum performance.
• D. No, it does not necessarily indicate they won't succeed.

Answer: (D)

Progress monitoring checks are used to see how much a student grows toward the grade-level targets over time. If a student scores below grade level on PM1 or PM2, it shows they’re not currently meeting the target, which signals a need for targeted support—not a prediction of failure. With timely intervention, adjusted instruction, and ongoing progress checks, students can make significant growth and reach year-end goals even if they started below level.

It isn’t a guarantee of failure, and it doesn’t mean the student is at maximum performance. It also isn’t about automatic promotion; decisions like promotion are based on a broader set of factors and ongoing progress, not a single early score.