How do NWEA state alignment studies benefit data from the Dynamic Reporting Suite?

Timely alignment studies ensure the accuracy of the Dynamic Reporting Suite's state proficiency projections.

The purpose of the alignment studies is to link the RIT scale to the standards and proficiency levels of individual state assessments. Many districts use NWEA MAP data to monitor their students' progress toward the proficiency standards for their states.

The Dynamic Reporting Suite is our first set of reports that natively incorporate alignment study data to make proficiency probability projections for students. In addition to individual student projections, administrators can analyze group data to look at overall projections. This information can be crucial in determining instructional strategy, identifying groups for possible remediation work prior to a state assessment, and giving teachers and administrators data to help inform their school improvement plans.

Because the No Child Left Behind Act required most states to expand their testing programs in 2006, the cut scores for many states have changed, and changes like these prompt NWEA to perform alignment studies to maintain the validity of proficiency projections for each state.

Completed alignment studies are posted to the State Information page of our website. You can also learn more about the methodology behind NWEA alignment studies.