Growth modeling


This paper contributes novel causal evidence for the impacts of kindergarten entry age on academic growth in the first three years of school.
By: Angela Johnson, Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: Growth modeling, Early learning


Through a series of simulation and empirical studies, we produce scores in a single-cohort repeated measure design using sum scores as well as multiple IRT approaches and compare the recovery of growth estimates from longitudinal growth models using each set of scores.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, James Soland
Topics: Growth modeling, Social-emotional learning


In this study, we conducted empirical and simulation analyses in which we scored surveys using item response theory (IRT) models that do and do not account for response styles, and then used those different scores in growth models and compared results.
By: James Soland, Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Growth modeling, Social-emotional learning


The learning curve: Revisiting the assumption of linear growth across the school year
Important educational policy decisions, like whether to shorten or extend the school year, often assume that growth in achievement is linear through the school year.Ā This research examines this untested assumption using data from seven million students in kindergarten through 8th grade across the fall, winter, and spring of the 2016-17 school year.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, James Soland
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Growth modeling, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss


This study explored how response style affects estimates of growth.
By: James Soland, Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Growth modeling, Social-emotional learning


NWEA 2020 MAP Growth Achievement Status and Growth Norms for Students and Schools
The 2020 MAP Growth Norms report presents mathematics, reading, language arts and science achievement and growth patterns for students attending public schools across the U.S. It includes details on the methodological approach, information on MAP Growth assessments, the tested student population and post-stratification weighting, growth modeling, and implications of the study for research and practice, as well as tables showing student and school status and growth norms, status percentiles, growth distributions, and growth percentiles
Topics: Growth modeling, Measurement & scaling


A huge portion of what we know about how humans develop, learn, behave, and interact is based on survey data. Although there is great deal of guidance on scaling and linking IRT-based large-scale educational assessment to facilitate the estimation of examinee growth, little of this expertise is brought to bear in the scaling of psychological and social-emotional constructs. Through a series of simulation and empirical studies, we produce scores in a single-cohort repeated measure design using sum scores as well as multiple IRT approaches and compare the recovery of growth estimates from longitudinal growth models using each set of scores.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, James Soland
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Growth modeling, Social-emotional learning