A science teacher wants to know if she needs to continue instruction on the periodic table of elements or if her class has mastered the concepts. What type of assessment decision does she need to make?

The teacher is looking to determine whether her students have mastered the concepts related to the periodic table of elements, which indicates that she is checking for understanding and the effectiveness of her instruction. This aligns with progress monitoring. Progress monitoring involves regularly assessing students' understanding to track their growth and mastery over time. It helps educators make informed decisions about whether to continue instruction, modify teaching strategies, or provide additional support.

In this context, the teacher's need to decide on the continuation of instruction indicates a focus on assessing students' current levels of understanding rather than merely allocating resources, holding individuals accountable, or screening for potential issues.