
Explore our Circle Progress Monitoring measures below to learn more about their alignment to the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines.
CIRCLE Progress Monitoring System
Implementation Guide
Teachers, Principals/Directors, School Specialists, District/Community Administrators
Children view the numbers and are prompted, “What number is this?”
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children view four images and identify which one represents a number.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children are asked to scan a complex visual array of shapes and point to the correct shapes.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children are shown different 2D and 3D shapes and asked to name or point to each shape.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
The first item evaluates rote counting skills, and the teacher enters the highest number the child counted to in sequence.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children are asked to count sets of picture items and indicate the cardinal value for each set. The most important thing to remember when administering this item is that THE RESPONSE IS SCORED BASED ON THE CARDINAL VALUE THAT THE CHILD PROVIDES. For example, if the child accurately counts the 10 items but provides the wrong cardinal value, the item is scored as incorrect. Children are being asked to understand that a set of objects has a specific (cardinal) value.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Children identify groups that contain a specific number of objects.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children are asked to solve simple addition and subtraction problems.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Children are asked to identify what comes next in a pattern by selecting the appropriate response.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children demonstrate their understanding of mathematical language and concepts. Items assess concepts such as capacity, quantity, measurement, order, and position.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Science was designed to measure four disciplinary core ideas in the National Research Council’s framework for science education, including:
Please note that there are no PK3 outcomes for the science section, as noted in the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines.
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Rapid Letter Naming evaluates how quickly and accurately children can recognize and name a combination of upper and lowercase letters.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Book and Print Awareness observes the child’s engagement and awareness of books and print.
Materials: A book that preferably has these features:
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Letter-Sound Correspondence sub-test assesses a child’s ability to identify sounds associated with individual letters.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Children identify parts of the word or each word of the sentence.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Rhyming evaluates a child’s ability to identify rhyming words.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Letter sounds assess a child’s ability to identify and match beginning sounds in words.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Evaluates a child’s ability to recognize sounds contained in words.
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
Children are asked to point to the word that was blended and blend phonemes independently.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Rapid Vocabulary evaluates how quickly and effortlessly children can retrieve and name familiar picture words.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Story Retell and Comprehension looks at a child’s ability to retell a story and answer comprehension questions. The teacher listens for key story elements, such as characters, settings, problems or emotions, use of connecting words, and an ending.
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Social Studies measure assesses children’s understanding of concepts related to self, family, community, people and the environment, and history and events.
Please note there are no PK3 outcomes for the Early Social Studies Skills section, as noted in the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Writing observables checklists are designed to assess growth in child behaviors that can be easily observed during day-to-day interactions between teachers and preschool students. The writing observables include areas of observation for:
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Positive Social Behaviors observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate how children interact positively with peers and adults, communicate with others, and cooperate in social situations.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Classroom Community & Safety observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate how children follow rules, respect people and materials, and contribute positively to the classroom environment.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Emotion and Behavior Regulation observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate how children recognize and manage emotions, respond appropriately in social situations, and adapt to classroom transitions and routines.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Self-Care observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate a child’s independence in managing personal care routines, including dressing, toileting, and hygiene.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guideline:
The Approaches to Learning observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate how children focus, persist through challenges, and engage in learning activities.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Art, Creativity, and Dramatic Play observable checklist captures the child’s imagination, creative expression, and participation in creative activities.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Initiative and Curiosity observable checklist assesses children’s initiative, curiosity, and engagement in learning, as well as their ability to use and recognize common technology tools and digital learning resources.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Initiative and Curiosity
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Pilot items:
The Flexibility observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate how children adapt to changes, consider others’ perspectives, and adjust their approaches to solve problems and interact effectively with others.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Gross Motor Skills observable checklist captures behaviors that demonstrate children’s balance, coordination, movement control, and ability to use outdoor play equipment safely and effectively through larger movements such as running, jumping, and balancing.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Fine and Visual Motor Skills observable checklist focuses on how children use their hands and coordinate movements for tasks like writing and drawing.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guidelines:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
The Health Status observable checklist captures children’s understanding of healthy food choices, hygiene practices, and safety rules that support personal health and well-being.
Observe and mark each student’s demonstration of these behaviors as:
Rarely, Sometimes, or Consistently
Pre-K 3 Guideline:
Pre-K 4 Guidelines:
Return to the Circle Progress Monitoring Toolkit for more resources.
This document was last modified on: August 18, 2026