Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

Overview

Assessments should make a difference.

Dedicated to this belief, NWEA developed Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), a state- aligned computerized adaptive assessment program that provides educators with the information they need to improve teaching and learning. Educators use the growth and achievement data from MAP to develop targeted instructional strategies and to plan school improvement. With the ability to test students up to four times a year, MAP test results help educators make student-focused, data-driven decisions.

More than 3100 school districts and educational partners use MAP Mathematics, Reading, and Language Usage tests to help all students learn. These assessments are unique in that they adapt to each student's ability, accurately measuring what a child knows and needs to learn. In addition, MAP tests measure academic growth over time, independent of grade level or age. Most importantly, the results educators receive have practical application to teaching and learning. MAP test results provide educators with timely information that guides instructional planning and school improvement.

Features

MAP tests are available in these four subject areas:

• Mathematics
• Reading
• Language Usage
• Science

MAP tests:

• Are aligned to each state's measurement scales and content standards, and are often used as an indicator of preparedness for state assessments.
• Allow educators to test up to four times a year providing the opportunity to make timely instructional adjustments.
• Are grade independent allowing educators to monitor a student's academic growth.
• Dynamically adjust to each student's performance level, providing accurate indication of his or her instructional level.
• Report scores as norm-referenced, achievement, and growth, providing different perspectives on an individual student's learning.

Practical Application

MAP tests are adaptive, meaning that they dynamically adjust to each student's performance level. As a student answers a test question on a computer, the program immediately analyzes the student's response, and based on how well the student has answered previous questions, selects a question of appropriate difficulty to display next. Because the questions are chosen specifically for the student taking the test, no question is wasted. Students can meaningfully attempt all of the items on a test, creating a more challenging and positive testing experience.

“Because MAP is computer adaptive, every student reaches a success level on the test.

Jana Beth Slibeck-Francis, Director of Assessment, Research and Development

Daviess County, KY

This type of adaptive testing is a better indicator of a student's true achievement and academic needs than traditional assessment, which is often a single test given to all students and written for the average ability within a grade level.

MAP tests are state-aligned and are often used as an indicator of preparedness for state assessments. Administering the tests up to four times each year allows educators to closely monitor the progress of students. Student test results are maintained test after test, so teachers and parents can monitor the growth of individual students year after year. With access to aggregated student report, building and central office administrators use MAP data to inform curriculum and school improvement decisions.

Educators use MAP tests to:

• Identify the skills and concepts individual students have learned.
• Diagnose instructional needs of individual students.
• Monitor academic growth over time.
• Make data-driven decisions at the classroom, school, and district levels.
• Help place new students into appropriate instructional programs.

FAQ

What are Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP tests?

MAP assessments are adaptive achievement tests in Mathematics, Reading, Language Usage, and Science that are taken on a computer.

What are computerized adaptive tests?

Computerized adaptive tests are taken on a computer. The difficulty of a test is adjusted to the student's performance so each student sees different test questions. The difficulty of each question is based on how well the student has answered the questions up to that point. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.

How often can a student be tested?

Districts have the option of testing their students up to four times a year. Students typically take tests at the beginning of the school year and at the end of the school year. Some districts may also choose to test students in winter and summer.

Do all students in the same grade take the same test?

No. The computer adjusts the difficulty of the questions so that each student takes a unique test.

What type of scores are reported on NWEA MAP assessments?

Percentile scores

Achievement scores

Growth scores

What is the RIT scale?

The scale NWEA uses to measure a student's progress is called the RIT scale, short for Rasch Unit. The RIT scale is an equal-interval scale much like centimeters on a meterstick. It is used to chart a student's academic growth from year to year.

If you would like more information on the RIT scale, refer to the following materials:

Hambleto, R.K. , Swaminathan, H., & Rogers, J. (1991). Fundamentals of Item Response Theory. Newbury Park: Sage.

Ingebo, G. (1997). Probability in the Measure of Achievement. Chicago: MESA Press

Wright, B.D. & Stone, M. (1979). Best Test Design. Chicago: MESA Press.

Visit http://edres.org/irt/ for introductory material about the item response theory and the Rasch model.

What grades are MAP tests applicable for?

In general, students in grades 2 through 10 take MAP tests because the tests are grade independent, they may be appropriate for students in lower or higher grades. NWEA is completing the development of tests for early primary grade students.

How do MAP tests tie in with local curriculum?

MAP tests are aligned to the content and structure of state standards.

Can students with special needs take MAP tests?

Because the tests are adaptive and un-timed, they often are appropriate for special needs students.

What are the minimum technical requirements for administering MAP?

See Technical Requirements.