1. End-of –year Assessments MAP and DRA Testing Workshop for Parents
PTA Coffee May 23, 2013
End-of –year Assessments
MAP and DRA Testing
Workshop for Parents

2. Terms
Achievement Test - A test that measures the extent to which a person has "achieved" something, acquired certain information, or mastered certain skills - usually as a result of planned instruction or training.
RIT - Rasch Unit, honoring George Rasch, the Danish mathematician who developed the underlying theory for this type of measurement. The RIT Scale is a curriculum scale developed by NWEA that uses the individual item difficulty values to estimate student achievement. Advantages to the RIT Scale are that it can relate the numbers on the scale directly to the difficulty of items on the tests and it is equal interval. Equal interval means that the difference between scores is the same regardless of whether a student is at the top, bottom or middle of the RIT Scale, and it has the same meaning regardless of grade level.
RIT to Reading Range - A score resulting from a correlation between NWEA’s RIT score and the Lexile® scale, a measure defined by MetaMetrics® that helps identify reading material that is at an appropriate difficulty level for an individual student. When a student reads material within his or her RIT to Reading Range, that student should read with 75% comprehension. Lexile is a registered trademark of MetaMetrics, Inc. NWEA is neither affiliated nor associated with MetaMetrics, Inc.
Standardized Test (standard test) - A test designed to provide a systematic sample of individual performance, administered according to prescribed directions, scored in conformance with definite rules, and interpreted in reference to certain normative information. Some would further restrict the usage of the term "standardized" to those tests for which the tests have been chosen on the basis of experimental evaluation, and for which data on reliability and validity are provided. Others would add "commercially published" and/or for "general use".

3. Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA)
Global organization (Portland, OR)
Provide research-based adaptive assessments
Professional development
Research services
Purpose: Helps educators make informed decisions to promote academic growth

4. What is MAP? Computerized adaptive tests Measures of Academic Progress
Level of difficulty is increased with each correct answer
Grades 3, 4 and 5
Reading
Language Usage
Math

5. Adaptive nature of MAP Adjusts to student’s ability level
Correct responses lead to more difficult questions
Incorrect responses are followed by easier items
Advantages: Score available immediately, potential reduction in test anxiety, test security increased, accurate scores across a wide range of abilities

6. Why are there score ranges?
Note: Scores from any test are estimates of performance. Multiple data points provide a comprehensive view of actual performance
No less than 3 points of data should ever be used to make important decisions.
If the student were to take the test relatively soon, the score is likely to fall within the same range

7. Percentile vs. Percent correct
Percentile ranking represents how well a student performs compared to other students in a nationwide norm sample for their age.
Example: 35th percentile does not mean 35 % of the items are correct
35th percentile : The student scored as well as, or better than 35% of students in the same grade norm group.

8. International School Scores
MAP Int’l School Report
154, 000 students
248 schools
94 countries
Terms: 2008, 2009, 2010
Grade level
Math
Reading
Language
3rd
207/203
203/198
206/201
4th
222/212
211/205
212/208
5th
229/220
216/211
218/213
Source: NWEA

10. Proficiency Projections
NWEA has conducted Alignment Studies in states where significant numbers of students have taken MAP
By comparing scores of the same students on each test, a correlation can be calculated.
NWEA can establish RIT cut scores for levels of proficiency on state assessment based upon the scores on MAP assessments.

11. Individual vs. Group Reports
Both allow us to analyze growth data relative to growth norms and proficiency benchmarks
Evaluate areas of strength, set goals.
Reports guide instruction and inform decision-making across the district and/or nationally
Individual reports help identify areas of strength or growth
Parent/teacher conferences
Student-led conferences and set goals

12. Student Experience with the Test
Approximately an hour to complete each test
Administered at the beginning and end of the school year. (Growth index)
Different tests are administered at different times.

13. How are the data used?
Measures students’ progress and growth in basic skills
Reveals strengths and areas for attention
Teachers track progress, areas of strength, areas where help is needed
Informs teachers where adjustments in the curriculum should be made

14. What is the Lexile Framework for Reading?
Unit of measuring text difficulty
It is linked to the RIT score
Range is 10L to 1700L
Ex: Green Eggs and Ham- 30L, Jurassic Park 710L, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 940L, The Good Earth 1530.

15. Reading the Report What do you notice?
What could be some possible factors to the direction of the growth chart?
If this were your child, what questions arise?

16. Things to Consider Time of day the test was administered
Amount of test preparation
Compare these results to other assessments; Does this result reflect the work that comes home?
Review reports considering feedback from teacher conferences

17. Tip for Parents: Ways to Prepare for Testing
Communicate regularly with the teacher to discuss progress
Establish a daily study routine in a quiet, comfortable place at home
Provide books and magazines for your child
Establish a culture of reading at home that includes your reading with your child

18. Tips: Ways to Support Language
Encourage conversation during family activities
Have your child explain events after reading
Have a “word of the week” and encourage your child to use new words
Have your child help plan and write a menu
Give a journal or diary as a gift

19. Tips: Supporting Reading
Plan visits to the library and book store
Play word games; Scrabble, Spill and Spell, etc.
Do word crossword puzzles with your child
Establish a culture and expectation for reading in the home. Involve all family members.

20. Tips: Supporting Math
Encourage children to solve problems on their own
Use household activities as an opportunity to practice measurement, grouping and dividing
Point out ways for children to use math in everyday activities; paying bills, making change, tipping at the restaurant, etc.