Assessments and Standards Based Learning
Types of Assessments
Classroom Assessments
What Is It? Assessments that are created at the classroom or team level, and are the primary source of learning/grading measurements.
Why? Formative and summative assessments at the classroom level inform and measure day-to-day instruction and provide data for achievement reporting. Results of these assessments help teachers differentiate instruction based on student need.
NWEA MAP Testing
MAP is a computerized achievement assessment that can measure academic learning in mathematics and reading.
One of the many positive features of MAP is that the computer adjusts the difficulty of the questions to match the skill level of each student. This adjustment is based on the student's answers. As the test proceeds, it is very likely that every student will take a different test. As a result, each student is tested within his or her current instructional level.
MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress. MAP test is developed by NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association). Our K-1 students take the MAP for Primary Grades test (MPG); 2nd through 8th grade students take the standard MAP test.
Commonly Used Terms
RIT - Tests developed by NWEA use a scale called RIT to measure student achievement and growth. It is an equal-interval scale, so scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages. This makes it possible to follow a student's educational growth from year to year.
Student Score Range - The middle number is the RIT score your child received. The numbers on either side of the RIT score define the score range.
District Average - The average RIT score for students in the school district in the same grade who were tested at the same term as your child.
Norm Group Average - The average score of students who were in the same grade and tested in the same term as observed in the latest NWEA norming study.
Lexile Range - The difficulty range of text that can be understood by the student 75% of the time.
Student Growth - Presents the growth in RIT score your child made from the previous fall to the spring of this year in which growth is reported.
How are the Test Results used?
Combined with other assessments and classroom work, MAP results will:
- Be used to tailor instruction to individual learning styles and abilities
- Place students in instructional groups that are appropriate for their skill levels
- Provide increased attention to the needs of individual students
- Help students and teachers work together to set goals for academic progress
Help Understanding Percentiles
Percentile - The student scored as well as, or better than, the percent of students taking the test in his/her grade
Percentile Range - Percentiles are used to compare one student's performance to that of the norm group
Percentile Rank - A normative statistic that indicates how well a student performed in comparison to the students in the norm group
Will the Results be Shared with Parents?
Yes! Each time your child takes the MAP assessment you will receive a progress report. The reports not only provide your child's score but also compare your child's score with other students in the district as well as nationally. Results are also reported in a graph that shows your child's progress over time.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When will my child be tested and how often?
In Gavin 37, the MAP assessments will be administered three times per year: fall, winter and spring.
How long will it take my child to complete a test?
Although tests are not timed, it will usually take your child less than one hour to complete each test.
What is different about the MAP test than other assessments given throughout the year?
- Adaptive to each student
- Computer vs. paper-pencil
- Nationally normed
- Aligned to Common Core State Standards
- Provides detailed, immediate results to teachers; provides same results to parents
Why did my child's percentile (or score) go down?
The NWEA research group has identified common behaviors which explain why some students show negative growth scores. Negative growth most commonly appears on reports for two general reasons: either students took too little time to take the test or students were not engaged during the test. If a pattern of negative growth is demonstrated over multiple test cycles, in both standardized tests and classroom performance a more in depth analysis will occur. Parents will be informed and instructional planning would take place.
MAP tests are an important objective measure that provide a snapshot of a child’s learning at a given point in time. Although we recognize a score may reflect negative growth in a single administration we know that ongoing classroom observations and daily performance is also an indicator of overall achievement.
What Is It? A state-mandated standardized test that measures readiness for college and careers.
Why do we take it? The IAR assessment is Illinois’ state achievement test. It is crafted to give teachers, schools, students, and parents useful information on how we are preparing our students for their future in comparison to other schools in Illinois.
More About IAR
For several years, school districts across Illinois, including ours, worked to align the curriculum with the Common Core State Standards. While students in grades three through eight had typically taken the ISAT (Illinois State Achievement Test), in 2015, school districts in Illinois administered the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) Assessment, and, starting in 2019, schools administer the Illinois Assessment of Readiness.
This assessment measures whether students are "at grade level" or, in other words, on track to be successful in college and their careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do we have to administer these assessments?
A: Federal law, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires that states administer an assessment to all eligible students in grades three through eight. Illinois chose to administer the IAR Assessment since it is aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards incorporating the Common Core.
Q: What is a good score? Should we expect to see whether our students met or exceeded the State Standard?
A:
Score reports show how students performed on each portion of the IAR assessment as well as their overall score. The student test results enable all of us to know where students currently stand on their path to success in college and career.
- Students scoring a 4 or 5 have demonstrated that they have a thorough understanding of grade-level content and are on the right track to being ready for college-level coursework.
- Students receiving a 3 are approaching expectations, but may need additional assistance mastering content.
- Students receiving a 1 or 2 need more assistance in mastering the content and are in need of greater supports.
Q: How will student scores be used?
A: Scores are used in conjunction with our local assessments (MAP and classroom assessments) to identify subjects a child is doing well in and how they can be challenged to go deeper into other areas OR where he or she needs extra support or practice. Having accurate data is an important part of ensuring that our schools are providing the right supports for students to be successful.
A: Scores are used in conjunction with our local assessments (MAP and classroom assessments) to identify subjects a child is doing well in and how they can be challenged to go deeper into other areas OR where he or she needs extra support or practice. Having accurate data is an important part of ensuring that our schools are providing the right supports for students to be successful.
Q: Where can I find more information about IAR?
Standards Based Grading
District 37 follows Standards Based Grading practices.The following resources provide more insight into the benefits of this approach to providing feedback to students: