Research report


The report documents the process NWEA followed to determine and validate the cut scores for fall, winter, and spring that can be used to identify students in Grades Kā8 who have severe learning difficulties and need intensive intervention in reading and mathematics.
An added memorandum presents the updated threshold scores by grades and terms for MAP Growth Mathematics and Reading.
By: Wei He, Patrick Meyer
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Guidance


Family engagement as a long-term strategy for continued COVID recovery
This NWEA research report emphasizes the vital role of family engagement in helping students recover academically from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report synthesizes current research on family engagement, examines the effectiveness of current strategies, identifies common barriers, and offers guidance for how districts can communicate more effectively with families about student progress.
By: Ayesha K. Hashim, Rebecca Johnson, Rachel Perera
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth, Guidance


COVIDās impact on science achievement: Trends from 2019 through 2024
This new report examines the pandemicās impacts on academic achievement and gain in Science and continues ongoing research by NWEAĀ® analyzing the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated school closures, influenced student learning.
By: Susan Kowalski, Scott J. Peters, Megan Kuhfeld, Gustave Robinson, Karyn Lewis
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


Reconciling Recent Evidence on Academic Recovery in the US from 2022 to 2023
A new analysis comparing latest NWEA and the Education Recovery Scorecard results to understand pandemic recovery, so far, and look at differences and similarities in those results.
By: Dan Dewey, Megan Kuhfeld, Erin Fahle, Tom Kane, Sean F. Reardon
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


NWEA research report examining the impacts of the pandemicās disruptions to learning and the status of academic recovery. This report features data from the 2023-24 academic year and underscores that unfinished learning continues to be a challenge due to lower achievement gains compared to pre-pandemic trends. This report is part of series tracking the on-going impacts.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


Executive Summary: Content proximity spring 2022 pilot study
This executive summary outlines results from the Content Proximity spring 2022 pilot study, including information on the validity, reliability, and test score comparability of MAP Growth assessments that leverage this new item-selection algorithm.
By: Patrick Meyer, Ann Hu, Xueming (Sylvia) Li
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Computer adaptive testing, Innovations in reporting & assessment, Test design


Content Proximity Spring 2022 Pilot Study Research Report
The purpose of this research report is to provide detailed information about updates to the MAP Growth item-selection algorithm. This brief includes results from the Content Proximity pilot study, including information on the validity, reliability, and test score comparability of MAP Growth assessments that leverage this new item-selection algorithm.
By: Patrick Meyer, Ann Hu, Xueming (Sylvia) Li
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Computer adaptive testing, Innovations in reporting & assessment, Test design