What is the purpose of progress monitoring with data sharing in a child with autism receiving school and home interventions?

• A. To rely on subjective impressions.
• B. To track function and adjust goals; share data with family and school to coordinate supports.
• C. To document only for compliance; avoid sharing with families.
• D. To supplement direct interventions with anecdotes.

Answer: (B)

Progress monitoring with data sharing uses objective measures to track how a child is progressing over time and to adjust goals based on what the data show. When data are shared with both family and school, everyone can coordinate supports and apply consistent strategies across settings, which is especially important for a child with autism who benefits from predictable, aligned interventions at home and in school. Tracking function—not just whether behavior happened—helps determine why a behavior occurs and whether current supports are helping, guiding timely adjustments to goals and supports.

Relying on subjective impressions isn’t enough because judgments can be biased. Documentation for compliance alone, without sharing with families, misses the collaborative planning that makes interventions effective. Relying on anecdotes provides a less reliable picture than systematic data.