Preparing Preschool Educators to Monitor Child Progress

Abstract

The provision of progress monitoring is mandated under federal law for children receiving special education services. In recent years, professional organizations have recommended that this provision be extended to include children receiving services within multitiered systems of support. Organizations representing the field of early childhood education have embraced this focus on progress monitoring to include all children, regardless of ability or disability. To understand how to effectively prepare preschool educators to engage in progress monitoring practices, we conducted a systematic review of the literature. Results of repeated and extended search methods identified only four studies. We present our findings and stress the need for researchers and funding agencies to work toward establishing a rigorous body of literature devoted to professional development and teacher training surrounding progress monitoring.