The Basics of Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM)

The Basics of CBM

Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) is the generic name for a formative evaluation method that assesses a student’s skill—particularly reading, but it also measures skills in all subject areas, like reading, writing, math, and even social behaviors.

- Essentially, it is the how of Response to Intervention (RTI) that uses tools/probes for educators and specialists to use.

-There are different ways that the how of CBM looks:

-“Dibbles” is a free (in Indiana) program. There is also NWEA. These approaches are not identical, but those who use RTI do use at least some form of CBM.

-Although it may seem complex, it is simple and practical.

-It is merely a timed (~1 minute) exercise that is quick to administer, simple to score, and effective in collecting a visual record of a child’s rate of academic progress.

-Similar to the idea of practices like Response To Instruction (RTI), CBM identifies a goal with the use of collecting data and then intervenes to improve the child’s performance in a systematic way.