Research brief
Behind at the starting line: What Kindergarten test scores tell us about reaching proficiency in 3rd grade
2026
Description
NWEA research brief examining Kindergarten test scores from more than 400,000 U.S. students and noting patterns that can predict academic success or identify students at risk of falling further behind. This early identification is key for educators, enabling them to intervene and influence learning trajectories before the next critical milestone: third grade.
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User Guide and FAQ: MAP Growth National Dashboard
This user guide explains how to navigate the MAPĀ® Growth⢠National Dashboard, understand the key metrics and terms, make appropriate comparisons of data, and communicate findings responsibly. This guide also includes a robust āFrequently Asked Questionsā section that provides in-depth answers about the dashboard and its uses.
By: Emily Morton, Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Growth
Technical Appendix: MAP Growth National Dashboard
This is the accompanying technical appendix to the MAP Growth National Dashboard providing more details of the data and describing more fully the sample and methods used within the dashboard.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Growth
Using data from the MAP Growth National Dashboard, this Trends Snapshot report focuses on academic growth trends post-COVID and points to a positive turn for U.S. reading after years of stagnation. This positive trend was also noted for historically underserved groups who showed the largest reading gains from 2025 to 2026.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Karyn Lewis
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth, Math & STEM, Reading & language arts
Achievement and Growth Norms for Spanish MAP Reading Fluency Foundational Skills
This technical report presents achievement and growth norms for Spanish MAP Reading Fluency Foundational Skills (grades Kā3), enabling educators to interpret student performance and progress in early literacy domains relative to national peer groups.
By: Wei He
Products: MAP Reading Fluency
Topics: Early learning, Item response theory, Measurement & scaling, Test design
This is the technical appendix to the research brief, āGetting Algebra Placement Right: Expanding Opportunity and Strengthening Preparation,ā which examines whether taking Algebra in 8th grade instead of 9th grade improves student outcomes.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Daniel Long, Scott J. Peters
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction, Math & STEM, Middle school
Getting Algebra Placement Right: Expanding Opportunity and Strengthening Preparation
This research brief examines whether taking Algebra in 8th grade instead of 9th grade improves student outcomes. Using a nationwide sample of MAP Growth scores for middle schoolers, NWEA researchers looked at how many students who were ready for Algebra actually enrolled, and how outcomes were affected for students who were or were not ready for the course.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Daniel Long, Scott J. Peters
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction, Math & STEM, Middle school
This is the technical appendix to the āStruggling adolescent readers left behind: Evidence of post-COVID-19 declines and pathways forwardā research brief, which highlights an urgent challenge in academic recovery: middle school reading.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Naomi Duran, PhD, Karyn Lewis, Carrie Phillips, Samantha Musacchia
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Empowering educators, Growth, Middle school, Reading & language arts