Why is ongoing assessment a key feature of the AR program?

Ongoing assessment is a vital component of the AR program because it enables educators to continuously monitor students' reading progress and adapt their reading goals according to individual developmental needs. This means that as students grow and improve in their reading abilities, their goals can be adjusted to ensure that they remain challenged and engaged. Such personalized attention helps to foster a positive learning environment where students can thrive at their own pace, ultimately enhancing their literacy skills and motivation.

In contrast to this, the other choices highlight aspects that do not align with the primary purpose of ongoing assessment. While traditional teaching methods serve distinct roles in education, they do not inherently encompass the adaptive and continuous nature of ongoing assessment. Final grades are typically based on cumulative evaluations rather than continuous monitoring, and ongoing assessments do not specifically simplify lesson planning; rather, they enhance it by providing valuable insights into each student's learning journey.