1. M.A.P. Measures of Academic Progress
“One of the most powerful allies of an educator is an informed parent who understands their child's academic needs and is in a position to reinforce what happens in the classroom. When educators share M.A.P. assessment data and resources with parents, the partnership that is created can be very beneficial for the student.”
- NWEA

2. What are we going to talk about today?
What is MAP?
Why use MAP instead of other standardized tests?
Unique features of MAP
The benefits of MAP
What does MAP look like for your student?
RIT scores, MAP, and reports
OK, MAP.... Now what?

3. What is MAP?
It is a unique student assessment in reading, math, and science.
It is a computerized and adaptive test that measures academic growth.
The difficulty of the assessment will adjust based on how the student performs on the questions as they progress through the test.
It is individualized and unique for each student.

4. Why use MAP instead of other standardized tests?
We can administer these tests utilizing less class time.
Results are quick, detailed, and accurate about the student’s academic growth over time.
MAP can help develop a partnership between teachers and parents that promotes each student’s learning and positively affects the life of the child.
MAP is an assessment FOR learning, not OF learning.

5. MAP FOR learning
Graphic borrowed from

6. Features of MAP Provides a challenging test for every student
Dynamically built based on the achievement level of the student and will give reliable information for each student
MAP data is individualized to show academic progress, yet can also be analyzed with respect to norms set by NWEA

7. Features of MAP
The tests are NOT timed. Students will be given as much time as needed to complete each test.
The AVERAGE time required to complete each test is 50 minutes.
The computer displays one question at a time.
Students will be tested 2 times each year in reading, math, and science in grades K-8.
Using winter data strategically can help teachers better pinpoint the needs of students who may be struggling, before the spring assessment.

8. Features of MAP
The test measures academic growth and shows how students are progressing.
The data can be looked at historically from test to test, season to season, and year to year.
Results are received immediately, with preliminary scores given at the end of each test.
Following each testing period, parents will receive a report showing your child’s growth.

9. Benefits of MAP
All students have the opportunity to succeed because each test is individualized.
Parents and teachers will receive quick, detailed, and accurate information about the student’s academic growth.
This assessment is designed to let teachers know where the student’s strengths are, and where help is needed.

10. Benefits of MAP
It will inform parents about their child's academic strengths and needs and helps parents be in a position to reinforce what happens in the classroom.
MAP will also help the student to know what they can be working on to improve the most.
A strong partnership can develop between teachers and parents that promotes each student’s learning and positively affects the life of the child.

11. What does the MAP test look like?
Students can see between questions on a MAP Math assessment. 50 questions are operational questions and the remaining are field test items. Within the MAP Reading assessment, there are items with 40 items as operational with the remaining as field test items.
The first screen the student will see looks like this.

12. What does the MAP test look like?
Sample Math Question
Work the problem on your scratch paper
Click on the best answer
Click on the <Go on> button

13. What does the MAP test look like?
Sample Reading Question
Read the passage and select the best answer
Click the <Go on> button

14. How is MAP Scored?
Each student’s progress is reported in RIT (Rasch unIT) scores and normative data.
The RIT score is NOT a percentage score, like on other tests.
This type of score enables teachers and parents to understand where to focus attention for the child’s optimum learning.
The normative data shows the national average (mean) and middle (median) RIT scores for different grades for a typical school district.

15. RIT Scores
An equal-interval scale, like feet and inches, that is independent from grade level.
A curriculum scale that uses item difficulty values to estimate student achievement. 
The RIT score can relate the numbers on the scale directly to the difficulty of items on the tests.
RIT scores range from 100 to 300.
Scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages.

16. A Note About Results for Younger Students
Due to the technology “learning curve” RIT scores are not always entirely valid for our younger (k-1st grade students
For this reason, teachers also administer an additional assessment (Fountas and Pinnell) to gain a clearer picture of students’ reading abilities

17. Student Progress Reports

18. Understanding Your Child’s Progress Report
The 2011 NWEA National Norms were produced from a sample of the pool of test records of the 5.1 million students who took MAP tests in spring and fall terms of 2009 and 2010 as well as winter term of This study utilized demographics from every state to produce a sample population that is representative of each state. The 2011 norms represent the U.S. school age population and provides more robust estimates of growth across all ranges

19. Understanding Your Child’s Progress Report

20. How do Teachers use MAP results?
MAP assessments are important to teachers because they help keep track of progress and growth in basic skills aligned with state standards for individuals and groups.
The results identify students’strengths and challenges in specific areas.
The results are used to inform curriculum and instruction in the classroom.

21. How can Parents support learning at home through MAP?
Help students prepare for test days through sleep, food, and enthusiasm.
Communicate with your child’s teachers.
Set growth goals with your child.

22. How Parents can Help Students Improve with Reading
Borrowed from NWEA Parent Tool Kit found at

23. How Parents can Help Students Improve with Language
Borrowed from NWEA Parent Tool Kit found at

24. How Parents can Help Students Improve with Math
Borrowed from NWEA Parent Tool Kit found at

25. Websites for Parents and Students
Borrowed from NWEA Parent Tool Kit found at

26. MAP Next Steps
Teachers have access to student reports to help inform curriculum and differentiation.
Teachers and students will be working with their MAP scores to set goals for future learning.
Parents have access to student reports to help support learning from home.
Scores are recognized by national academic organizations, such as colleges, universities, and academic talent search organizations.

27. “NWEA’s computerized MAP tests provide teachers, students, and parents with an accurate assessment for a student’s learning achievement, precisely measuring what a child knows and needs to learn. When administered at regular intervals over time, it is possible to find out whether an individual student, class, or an entire grade level, is making satisfactory progress in basic skill areas. Teachers can use this assessment for instructional planning for individual students or an entire class.”
- NWEA Admin Handbook
Questions?