Technical brief
Technical Appendix to Missing at the Top: Lower-income Students Underrepresented Among High Achievers
October 2026
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Scott Peters, Daniel Long
Description
This is the technical appendix to the research brief, Missing at the Top: Lower-income Students Underrepresented Among High Achievers, which examines whether lower-income students who show high math achievement early in school are being identified and supported to sustain their success.
Read the briefTopics: Advanced Learning, Empowering educators, Growth, Math & STEM
Related Topics
Missing at the Top: Lower-income Students Underrepresented Among High Achievers
This research brief examines whether lower-income students who show high math achievement early in school are being identified and supported to sustain their success. The research addresses a broader concern that socioeconomic gaps in advanced learning opportunities may contribute to high-achieving, lower-income students falling off the path to advanced math, STEM education and careers.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Scott Peters, Daniel Long
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Advanced Learning, Empowering educators, Growth, Math & STEM
This is the technical appendix to the research brief, āThe Power of Connectedness: A Case for a Coherent Instructional System for Reading and Science Improvement,ā which examines the practices and conditions of a coherent instructional system, and where and how it had the most impact.
By: Susan Kowalski, Ayesha K. Hashim
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction, Math & STEM
Using a case study from a U.S. school district, this research brief examines the practices and conditions of a coherent instructional system, and where and how it had the most impact. It offers a practical model that leaders can adapt in their own schools to help strengthen instruction across classrooms.
By: Susan Kowalski, Ayesha K. Hashim
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Empowering educators, Growth, Informing instruction, Math & STEM
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
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