Which type of assessment is useful for monitoring progress toward specific learning goals?

Formative assessment is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to monitor student progress toward specific learning goals throughout the learning process. This type of assessment allows educators to gather ongoing feedback about student understanding, which can inform instructional adjustments and support learning. By identifying areas where students may struggle or excel, teachers can provide timely interventions or enrichments, thereby fostering a more responsive learning environment. Formative assessments can take various forms, such as quizzes, discussions, observations, or assignments, all aimed at enhancing learning rather than merely measuring it.

In contrast, diagnostic assessments are primarily used to identify students' strengths and weaknesses before instruction begins, rather than to track ongoing progress. Summative assessments occur at the end of an instructional unit and evaluate student learning against specific goals but do not provide the ongoing insights needed for continuous improvement. Proctored assessments focus on maintaining test integrity and ensuring that assessments are administered under controlled conditions, which may not necessarily relate to monitoring progress in an instructional context.