{"id":26551,"date":"2026-05-19T09:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/?p=26551"},"modified":"2026-05-19T09:07:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:07:14","slug":"can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/2026\/can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you trust the data behind your instructional decisions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2026\/05\/can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions_850x300_hero.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"850\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2026\/05\/can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions_850x300_hero.png 850w, https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2026\/05\/can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions_850x300_hero-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2026\/05\/can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions_850x300_hero-768x271.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2026\/05\/can-you-trust-the-data-behind-your-instructional-decisions_850x300_hero-720x254.png 720w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/>Teachers and school and district leaders make high-stakes instructional decisions with assessment data every day. They use it to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Group students for instruction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify students in need of intervention or enrichment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Measure growth over time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluate curriculum effectiveness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set school and district goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But how often do we stop to ask an important question: Can we actually trust the data we\u2019re using? That\u2019s the central question explored in our white paper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/resource-center\/resource\/when-your-data-counts-can-you-count-on-your-data\/\">\u201cWhen your data counts, can you count on your data?\u201d<\/a> The paper takes a close look at what makes assessment data trustworthy and how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/map-growth\/\">MAP\u00ae Growth\u2122<\/a> &nbsp;is an assessment you can count on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cGood enough\u201d assessment data isn\u2019t good enough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Tina Federico, principal at James H. Metzgar Elementary School in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, and MAP Growth partner notes in the video below, \u201cWe are making decisions about children\u2019s futures. We\u2019re preparing them to do things and go out in the world and have jobs that aren\u2019t even invented yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1192702401?h=32f349d6e7&#038;title=0&#038;byline=0&#038;portrait=0&#038;\u2026 frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"Principal Tina Federico on Trust\"><\/iframe><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>A high-quality assessment, then, should do more than generate scores. As noted in the white paper, trustworthy assessment data should help educators:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Measure student progress accurately<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor understanding over time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guide interventions and enrichment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inform whole-class, small-group, and independent instruction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support strategic planning at the school and district level<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But those outcomes are only possible if the data itself is dependable. Without accurate, actionable insights, educators risk making instructional decisions based on incomplete\u2014or misleading\u2014information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help schools evaluate assessment quality, the white paper focuses on four essential characteristics of trustworthy data:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Precision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Validity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Objectivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reliability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Precision matters more than you might think<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Precision is critical in assessment. High-quality assessments should use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>A consistent measurement scale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stable comparisons across grades and seasons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updated norming studies that reflect current student populations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Because MAP Growth uses the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/2025\/how-the-map-growth-rit-scale-offers-valuable-insights-into-student-growth\/\">RIT scale<\/a> across grade levels and relies on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/2025\/whats-new-in-the-2025-map-growth-norms\/\">national norms<\/a>, educators can compare growth from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Fall to spring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Year to year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grade to grade<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Questions to ask about your current assessments<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As you think about your current assessment solution, consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Does your assessment use a stable scale over time?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are norming studies updated regularly?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the data accurately reflect your student population?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Valid assessments measure what students actually know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Assessments should also measure what they\u2019re intended to measure\u2014and nothing else. For example, if students are being assessed on American mountain ranges, questions unrelated to that content don\u2019t provide meaningful insight into student understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To support validity, strong assessments should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Thorough review cycles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content experts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evidence-centered design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Statistical analysis of item performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>MAP Growth meets all of these requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Questions to ask about your current assessments<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As you evaluate assessment tools, consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>What is the intended purpose of the assessment?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do results provide actionable insights for teachers?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does student performance on the assessment actually tell you?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Objectivity supports fairness and equity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Trustworthy data must also be objective. In practice, that means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Assessment content should be culturally relevant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administration should minimize outside influence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scoring should remain consistent and unbiased<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>MAP Growth is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Standards aligned<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curriculum agnostic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Computer adaptive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatically scored<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>MAP Growth content undergoes sensitivity reviews to support equity and developmental appropriateness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Questions to ask about your current assessments<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When thinking about objectivity in assessment, ask the followoing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Could scores vary depending on who administers the assessment?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are assessments administered consistently?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the content undergo sensitivity reviews?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These questions can help educators think critically about fairness in both testing and instructional decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reliability is what makes growth data meaningful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Reliability refers to the consistency of assessment results over time. Reliable assessments like MAP Growth should provide stable insights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Across test forms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Across testing windows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Across groups of students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This consistency is especially important when data is used to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Group students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify interventions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor progress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make long-term instructional decisions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reliability depends heavily on rigorous assessment development and statistical processes like equating, which ensures different versions of an assessment are comparable in difficulty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Questions to ask about your current assessments<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We encourage educators to ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Are different forms of the assessment comparable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the assessment shift drastically from year to year?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does the provider prioritize consistency in content design?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/resource-center\/resource\/when-your-data-counts-can-you-count-on-your-data\/\">\u201cWhen your data counts, can you count on your data?\u201d<\/a><strong> <\/strong>to learn more about the roles of precision, validity, objectivity, and reliability in high-quality assessments like MAP Growth. We also encourage you to download our checklist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/resource-center\/resource\/the-essential-11-how-to-gauge-an-assessment-solution\/\">\u201cThe essential 11: How to guage an assessment solution\u201d<\/a> to get a better sense for whether your assessment has the coverage, innovative features, and accessibility tools and capabilities your school or district deserves. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Teachers and school and district leaders make high-stakes instructional decisions with assessment data every day. They use it to: But how often do we stop to ask [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":26554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"MAP Growth supports educators in making sound instructional decisions by prioritizing precision, validity, objectivity, and reliability.","footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[647,637],"grade_level":[830,831,832,833],"product":[835],"theme":[],"coauthors":[{"id":142,"name":"Monica Rodr\u00edguez, NWEA","link":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/author\/mrodriguez\/","avatar_urls":{"24":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cropped-Monica-headshot-24x24.jpeg","48":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cropped-Monica-headshot-48x48.jpeg","96":"https:\/\/www.nwea.org\/blog\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cropped-Monica-headshot-96x96.jpeg"}}],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.14 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can you trust the data behind your instructional decisions? - Teach. 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