What is one characteristic of Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM)?

Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) is a method used to evaluate students' academic performance and progress through standardized assessments that are directly tied to the student’s curriculum. One key characteristic of CBM is that it utilizes criterion-referenced assessments, which means that the performance of students is measured against specific criteria or learning objectives rather than compared to the performance of other students. This approach allows for a more individualized understanding of a student’s abilities in relation to expected outcomes, making it easier for educators to identify areas where support is needed and to monitor progress over time.

By focusing on measuring specific skills and progress relative to defined benchmarks, CBM effectively informs instruction and can directly influence educational decisions and interventions tailored to a student’s needs. This is especially useful in school psychology, where data-driven decisions are essential for enhancing student learning outcomes.

The other options do not align with the primary purpose and methods of CBM: it does not focus solely on student motivation, it assesses a range of academic skills rather than only behavioral performance, and it does not typically require students to self-assess, which is more characteristic of different assessment approaches.