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

The correct response identifies formative assessment as the type of assessment used for measuring student growth over time. Formative assessments are ongoing assessments that occur during the learning process, allowing educators to gather data on student performance and understanding. This type of assessment is designed to inform instruction, providing immediate feedback that helps teachers adjust their teaching strategies to better meet the needs of their students.

Formative assessments can take many forms, such as quizzes, observations, and discussions, and they help educators track student progress towards learning goals by capturing incremental improvements and identifying areas where additional support may be needed. This ongoing nature of formative assessments makes it particularly effective for evaluating growth over time, rather than just a single point in time.

In contrast, summative assessment is typically used to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit or course, rather than over time. Diagnostic assessments occur before instruction begins to identify students' strengths and weaknesses, and norm-referenced assessments compare a student's performance to a normative group rather than focusing specifically on individual growth.