KPM: What type of assessment is KPM — norm-referenced or criterion-referenced?
Answer
Circle Kindergarten Progress Monitoring (KPM) is a standardized, criterion-referenced assessment that measures each student's skills against established developmental benchmarks, rather than comparing students to their peers.
KPM measures growth, not just mastery.
Unlike a standards checklist that focuses on whether a student has mastered a specific skill, KPM is designed to monitor progress across the kindergarten year. This helps educators understand where students are now and how their skills are developing over time.
KPM captures a wide range of abilities.
Kindergarten students enter school with different experiences and skill levels. For this reason, KPM includes items that span a range of difficulty levels. This allows educators to identify students who may need additional support, as well as students who are ready for enrichment.
KPM provides actionable instructional data.
Results highlight specific skills students have developed and areas where they may benefit from additional instruction. Educators can use this information, alongside classroom observations and other assessment data, to inform instructional planning.
KPM supports long-term learning success.
The assessment focuses on foundational skills that research has shown are important indicators of future academic development. By monitoring these skills over time, educators can better support student growth and readiness for first grade and beyond.
For more information about KPM administration, interpretation of results, and benchmark expectations, visit the KPM page on CLI Engage.
For additional information on the KPM, visit our webpage: