Easy Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM)

What is Easy CBM? EasyCBM® was designed by researchers at the University of Oregon as an integral part of an RTI (Response to Intervention) model. The goal of the system: to help facilitate good instructional decision- making. As of September of 2010, there are over 68,000 users of CBM.

What are CBMs? CBMs are standardized measures that sample from a year’s worth of curriculum to assess the degree to which students have mastered the skills and knowledge deemed critical at each grade level. At each grade level, alternate forms of each measure type are designed to be of equivalent difficulty, so as teachers monitor student progress over time, changes in score reflect changes in student skill rather than changes in the test forms.

What Does CBM Measure? The reading tests include measures of: Alphabetic Principle (Phoneme Segmenting, Letter Names), Phonics (Letter Sounds), Fluency (Word Reading Fluency, Passage Reading Fluency), Vocabulary, and Comprehension (Multiple Choice Reading Comprehension). These measures are based on the “Big Five” from the National Reading Panel. Phonemic Awareness Alphabetic Principle Accuracy and Fluency with text Vocabulary Comprehension

What Does CBM Measure (continued) The math tests are based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Focal Point Standards in Mathematics and include three test types per grade (aligned with the NCTM Curriculum Focal Points for each grade level). Each of the math tests is comprised of 16 items. Refer to the Score Interpretation Guidelines (norms) for your grade level’s strands.

Where Do They Get These Norms? Score guidelines are updated annually. Values for the reading measures are currently based on approximately 2000 students per grade level, from Oregon and Washington. Values for the math measures are based on a stratified national sample with approximately 1500 students per grade level.

How Could This Be Useful to Me? Easy CBM is a convenient way of informing our instruction. Adjustments can be made and tested for effectiveness quickly with little instructional time lost. Easy CBM is a convenient way of informing our instruction. Adjustments can be made and tested for effectiveness quickly with little instructional time lost. Provides visual representations (graphs, tables) of progress for parents and students against a standard or norm. We can compare our student’s performance to that of the nation! Provides visual representations (graphs, tables) of progress for parents and students against a standard or norm. We can compare our student’s performance to that of the nation! We can administer the tests to the whole class to screen for intervention needs AND/OR we can progress monitor for 6 weeks as part of the special education process. We can administer the tests to the whole class to screen for intervention needs AND/OR we can progress monitor for 6 weeks as part of the special education process. We have a common, standardized assessment, tied to the standards within our PLCs and across grade levels that can be accessed over time. We have a common, standardized assessment, tied to the standards within our PLCs and across grade levels that can be accessed over time. This prepares first and second graders for taking standardized tests in the computer lab and it’s FUN! This prepares first and second graders for taking standardized tests in the computer lab and it’s FUN!

How Do I Get Started? Go to Go to Once you have an excel document with your student names, export it into the website. Once you have an excel document with your student names, export it into the website. The website provides an easy-to- follow teacher manual, online training, videos, and even optional proficiency tests for you to take after reading about each measure. The website provides an easy-to- follow teacher manual, online training, videos, and even optional proficiency tests for you to take after reading about each measure.