What type of assessment is most effective for measuring student growth over time?

Longitudinal assessments are particularly effective for measuring student growth over time because they involve repeated observations of the same variables over long periods. This approach allows educators to track progress, identify trends, and gather comprehensive data on student performance and development across various stages of their education. By assessing the same group of students over multiple points in time, longitudinal assessments provide a clearer picture of individual learning trajectories and how various factors may influence academic growth.

Unlike formative assessments, which focus on ongoing process and improvement within a single learning cycle, or summative assessments that evaluate student learning at a specific point in time, longitudinal assessments are designed to measure change over extended periods. Standardized tests also typically assess a snapshot of a student's knowledge or skills at a given moment and may not reflect growth effectively since they often compare students to a larger population rather than focusing on individual growth over time. Thus, for tracking how students develop their skills and knowledge throughout their educational journey, longitudinal assessments are the most suitable choice.