FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

What aspect does portfolio assessment typically focus on?

1. Student attendance records

2. Documenting student progress and accomplishments

3. School-wide performance data

4. Teacher evaluations and feedback

The correct answer is: Documenting student progress and accomplishments

The focus of portfolio assessment is primarily on documenting student progress and accomplishments. This method allows for a comprehensive collection of student work and evidence of learning over time. Portfolios provide insights into a student's strengths, skill development, and areas for improvement. They often include samples of a student's work, reflections on learning experiences, and assessments that show how the student has grown academically and personally. This personalized approach enables educators to tailor instruction to meet students' individual needs effectively. In contrast, attendance records are more administrative than educational, and while they can provide important context, they do not directly reflect individual student progress. School-wide performance data aggregates information across many students, focusing on collective outcomes rather than the individual learning journey. Teacher evaluations and feedback are essential for professional development but do not capture the full scope of student growth in the same way that portfolio assessment does.