Dear CHS Parent or Guardian:For the 2019-2020
school year, we are excited to provide our teachers and students with a tool
which will assist in identifying areas of growth based upon your student’s
individual needs. In an effort to improve teaching and learning, NWEA’s MAP
allows teachers and students the opportunity to set goals and track individual
student growth throughout the school year.
As an introduction to you, we have provided several frequently asked
questions and their responses. You may
also find helpful information on the NWEA website at nwea.org.
- What
is MAP Growth?
- MAP Growth is a
computer adaptive test, which means every student gets a unique set of
test questions based on responses to previous questions. As the student
answers correctly, questions get harder. If the student answers
incorrectly, the questions get easier. By the end of the test, most
students will answer about half the questions correctly.
- What
does MAP measure?
- MAP results are
provided as a numerical RIT score. This score is used to measure a
student’s achievement level at different times of the school year and determine
growth. Think of this like marking height on a growth chart. You can tell
how tall your child is at various points in time and how much they have
grown between one time and another.
- What
is a RIT score?
- The RIT (Rasch Unit) scale is a
stable, equal-interval scale, like feet and inches. Equal-interval means
that a change of 10 RIT points indicates the same thing regardless of
whether a student is at the top, bottom, or middle of the scale, and a
RIT score has the same meaning regardless of grade level or age of the
student. Scores over time can be compared to tell how much academic growth
a student has made, similar to measuring height with a ruler.
- How
do teachers use MAP scores?
- Teachers can see
the progress of individual students and of their class as a whole.
Students with similar MAP scores are generally ready for instruction in
similar skills and topics. MAP also provides data around the typical
growth for students who are in the same grade, subject, and have the same
starting achievement level. This data is often used to help students set
goals and understand what they need to learn to achieve their goals.
- How
long is a MAP test and how often will my child take the tests?
- Tests are not
timed, and students may take as much time as they need to complete them.
Most students take less than an hour to complete a MAP test. These tests
given in Kindergarten and 1st grade typically last a shorter
time. We will give MAP tests to
students August, December and April.
- What
information will I receive from my child’s school?
- You will be provided
with your child’s Student Progress Report. This report contains
information and scores from your child’s most recent and past MAP tests.
- How
can I help my child prepare for MAP tests?
- Your child’s
teacher will help with any pre-test instructions to explain the test to
the students. Just like any school day, make sure your child is
well-rested and fed with a well-rounded diet. Encourage them to do their
best. This is not a high stakes test but a tool used to measure what a
student knows and still needs to learn.
You will be
provided with additional information throughout the school year as student data
is available. Should you have additional
questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school for more information!