Our students in Grades 2 – 8 will begin the fall MAPGrowth testing session next week! More information on testing and dates of test will soon follow. For a general overview of the test, see last month’s post below!
Principal, Ms. Barbara Verdonck
Over the past few years, the Archdiocesan Schools Office staff has been researching assessment programs in order to find an assessment that provides teachers with data they can use throughout the year to improve instruction and to support each student’s academic growth, while still providing the necessary norm-referenced data, such as national percentile scores. During the 2018-2019 school year, the Archdiocesan Schools Office piloted the NWEA MAP Growth online testing program in nine schools. Based on the success of that pilot, it was decided to transition elementary schools from Iowa Assessments to MAP Growth. Each elementary school had the option of moving to MAP Growth for the 2019-2020 school year or 2020-2021 school year.
MAP Growth is a computer adaptive test created by NWEA that students take three times per school year (fall, winter, spring). The subject areas tested in MAP Growth in grades 2-8 are reading, math, and language, with science included in grades 3-7 and optional in grade 8. Computer adaptive tests adjust to each student’s learning level, providing a unique set of test questions based on the student’s responses to previous questions. If the student answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next question is easier. This results in a detailed picture of what the student knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level. The results provide teachers with information to help them deliver appropriate content for each student and monitor each student’s academic growth over time.
Students take the MAP Growth test on a computer or tablet during a 3-4-week testing window established by the Archdiocesan Schools Office. Each school will set its own schedule within each of the testing windows. This flexibility allows testing to fit the school’s schedule and become part of the flow of the school day. During the 2020-2021 school year, MAP Growth testing will take place during the following testing windows:
| Fall Testing Window | Winter Testing Window | Spring Testing Window |
| October 5th – October 30th | January 25th – February 19th | May 3rd-21st |
The MAP Growth tests are untimed. Most students complete each subject test in less than an hour. Students who do not finish the assessment in the time scheduled for the testing session are able to resume the test at another time without the loss of test responses already submitted. The reports obtained from MAP Growth testing provide information about the student’s level of achievement and his or her growth over time. For more information about MAP Growth visit: https://www.nwea.org/parent-toolkit/
Sincerely,
Ms Verdonck