New districtwide assessment to provide consistent data, enrich learning for all students
The decision to utilize the computer-adaptive assessment for about 225,000 CCSD students each year will:
- Provide data for teachers, school-based leaders and executive leadership to inform and guide instruction in the classroom to accelerate and enrich learning for all students.
- Ensure more instructional consistency throughout CCSD with a goal of increasing achievement across the board.
- Ensure the data teachers receive is closely correlated with the Nevada Academic Content Standards and the Nevada Criterion-Referenced Tests that students take at the end of the school year.
- Provide families with access to more regular, accurate measures focusing on their students’ learning and progress.
- Save an estimated $800,000 a year for schools that had been paying for their own interim assessments. Those funds can now be utilized in school strategic budgets for other purposes.
“Research is clear that great teachers have the biggest impact on student achievement, more than any program or technology-driven solution,” said Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara. “A strong relationship with an effective teacher, along with clearly identified learning needs, is the key to great growth for any student. This is why we are partnering with NWEA, a non-profit organization focused on teacher and student growth with the best formative assessments system.”
Measures of Academic Progress Growth Frequently Asked Questions
What is Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth?
MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test in which every student receives a unique set of test items based on his/her responses to previous test items. As the student correctly answers test items, the test items become more complex. If a student incorrectly answers test items, the test items become less complex.
What is the purpose of MAP Growth?
The purpose of the MAP Growth assessment is to determine what each student knows and is ready to learn aligned to the Nevada Academic Content Standards (NVACS) in reading, mathematics, and science. MAP Growth also tracks each student’s growth over time.
How often are students assessed on MAP Growth?
Students will be assessed in reading, mathematics, and science in the fall, winter, and spring during designated assessment windows.
How long does it take an individual student to take MAP Growth?
Most students take less than an hour to complete MAP Growth; however, MAP Growth is not a timed assessment, and students may take as much time as they need to complete the assessment.
Is MAP Growth a “high-stakes” test?
No, MAP Growth is not a “high-stakes” test. MAP Growth is a formative assessment that provides timely feedback to teachers and administrators to guide and inform instruction to develop and implement lesson plans at the appropriate levels to provide supports for all students to master grade-level skills and concepts.
What information is assessed with MAP Growth?
MAP Growth assesses every student’s knowledge of the Nevada Academic Content Standards in reading, mathematics, and science, which aligns with Nevada’s end-of-the-year assessments.
How well do MAP Growth scores align to the results on Nevada’s Criterion-Referenced Tests, administered at the end of the school year?
MAP Growth scores are strongly linked to proficiency on Nevada’s Criterion-Referenced Tests, with accuracy range rates between 0.83 and 0.89 across tested grades and content areas.
How do schools and teachers use MAP Growth scores?
NWEA provides different reports to assist teachers in using MAP Growth data. Data reports provide both whole classroom data and individual student data. Students with similar MAP Growth scores are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and concepts. MAP Growth also provides data around the typical growth for students who are in the same grade and have the same starting achievement levels. This data is often used to help students set goals and understand what they need to learn to achieve their goals. Principals can also use the scores to analyze students’ performance and progress within classrooms, grade levels, and the school.
What is a “RIT” score?
When students complete the MAP Growth assessment, the student receives a number called a Rasch Unit (RIT) score for each area of the assessment. This score represents the student’s achievement level at any given moment and helps measure the student’s academic growth over time. The RIT scale is a stable scale, like feet and inches, that accurately measures student performance, regardless of age, grades, or grade level. This data provides educators with critical information on what learning should come next for each student.
How is MAP Growth going to help improve District supports for schools?
The District will have a comprehensive, consistent, formative assessment system in reading, mathematics, and science to make informed decisions at the District level. Leadership will be able to focus on systems and structures to promote high-quality, standards-based instruction for all students.
What supports will elementary and middle school teachers and administrators receive to implement MAP Growth?
Beginning in the spring of 2019, and throughout the 2019-2020 school year and beyond, teachers, learning strategists, administrators, and District leaders will participate in professional learning focusing on the balanced assessment system, assessment administration, data and reports, goal setting, differentiated instruction, and long-range planning to support a successful implementation on MAP Growth.
Are there supports available for parents/guardians to better understand the MAP Growth assessments?
Resources for parents/guardians, including sample test items, can be accessed through the Parent Toolkit located at https://www.nwea.org/parent-toolkit/.
How does implementing MAP Growth assessments in Grade Kindergarten through Grade 8 impact requirements for Read by Grade Three?
Students in Grade Kindergarten through Grade 3 are currently required to participate in MAP Growth assessments in reading three times a year. The implementation of MAP Growth does not create a need for additional assessments in reading.
Will the Nevada Department of Education continue to pay for the required MAP Growth reading assessments in kindergarten through grade three in alignment with requirements for Read by Grade Three?
Yes, the Nevada Department of Education currently is continuing to pay for the required MAP Growth reading assessments in Grade Kindergarten through Grade 3.
How will the shift in MAP Growth assessments in Grade Kindergarten through Grade 8 impact schools’ budgets?
The MAP Growth formative assessments will be purchased centrally by the District. For schools that were spending their own funds on MAP Growth or other formative assessments, this will result in a cost savings in schools’ strategic budgets.