MAP - Measures of Academic Progress

East Central Middle aims to have every student reach the level of state grade-level content standards. In addition to state tests, JCSD Schools employs a non-profit organization, The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), which offers computer-adapted tests to schools and school districts to evaluate the student learning and make necessary suggestions to teachers for individual students.

MAP test is used to measure individual levels of student performance reflected in the Mississippi Frameworks and the State Standards and Benchmarks. The questions also measure various skills, such as analytic ability, critical thinking, and synthesis. While the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing is not used as a basis of yearly promotion, it is a valuable resource to identify students in need of remediation and intervention.

MAP is administered 3 times every academic year. With a large norm reference group (more than 2 million every year), MAP reports will provide highly accurate feedback as how ECMS students perform compared to their peers throughout the nation. The assessment adapts to the student's ability, accurately measuring what a child knows and needs to learn. MAP measures academic growth over time, independent of grade level or age.

The first MAP test of the year will be implemented in September/October. NWEA provides test results within 24 hours of the test allowing the school administration and the teachers plan necessary interventions for the students.

MAP test results are used to:

• Identify the skills and concepts individual students have learned
• Diagnose instructional needs
• Monitor academic growth over time
• Make data-driven decisions
• Place new students into appropriate instructional programs

Student test results are maintained for previous tests, so teachers and parents can monitor the growth of individual students over time. Students are tested in three main subject areas:

• Reading
• Language Usage
• Mathematics

MAP is a computerized academic assessment that will begin at ECMS in late September.  All children, grades 6-8, will take the MAP test in all three subject areas (math, reading, language).  Students take the MAP test in the Fall and Spring of each academic year (and in most cases in the Winter as well) to assess instructional level and measure academic growth.

Each subject area is an approximately one hour test on the computer for each child.  The results are quickly available to teachers and parents.

MAP scores are generally know within a week after the MAP testing window closes.

Understanding MAP test scores

Performance vs. Growth

Parents and teachers generally want to know two things, when looking at test scores: 1) Is my student performing at, above or below the expectation for their grade level (academic performance), and 2) Is my student making progress (academic growth) during the school year?

MAP test scores help answer both these questions, but can be a little difficult to understand at first. MAP test scores are different than other standardized testing scores, in that MAP uses "RIT" scores to place student's achievement into academic RIT bands that correspond roughly to grade levels.

Performance

By looking at a student's RIT score, and comparing it to National Average RIT scores for that student's grade level, you can determine if your student is performing at, above or below the expectation for their grade level (academic performance).

Compare RIT Score to the National Average RIT Score for Grade Level

A percentile score is also given, which shows how the student compares to other students the same age. 

Growth

It is important, although sometimes difficult, to understand academic growth, because it is important for students to continue to learn, even if their performance is above grade level.  For students that are below grade level, they may be making significant progress, even if they haven't "caught up" yet.

MAP scores can be used to measure academic growth, and whether growth is faster or slower than the "mean" growth for that grade level.  It is important to compare year-to-year growth numbers (i.e. Spring-to-Spring is the best comparison). If the child is above or below grade level performance, it is important to look at the growth numbers for that grade level.

Please visit www.nwea.org for more information about MAP testing.