What's New on the MAP? Missouri Learning Standards

The Missouri Learning Standards website posted the following information on March 14, 2014:

What’s New on the MAP

There’s been talk about the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) being replaced by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests. There are changes coming to certain parts of the MAP that involve SBAC, but the program remains intact. Here’s what that means for Missouri students, teachers and parents:

The MAP assessments will cover the same subjects as always. But beginning in the 2014-15 school year, MAP will use new SBAC questions in English language arts and math to reflect new content in the Missouri Learning Standards. The assessments will also be administered online, just as current high school assessments are.

Online Testing 

Online assessments will provide quicker results – within 10 days for grade-level assessments and five days for end-of-course exams – instead of issuing scores several months after students take the tests. They also allow Missouri to transition to computer-adaptive assessments, which can adjust the difficulty of questions based on student response. For instance, a student who answers correctly will be given a more challenging question. An incorrect answer generates a less difficult question. This type of testing gives teachers, parents and students better information on students’ mastery of a subject.

The information from tests will provide insight into college and career readiness early enough to address issues and provide extra support where needed.

Although the new assessments were pilot tested in 2013 and will also be administered as a field test in 2014, the 2014-15 school year will be the first year the tests will be given to all students with results contributing to school district accountability.

Formative, Interim and Summative Assessments

For the first time, the state assessment system will provide districts with formative and interim testing resources to use as they see fit. Formative assessments include daily assignments, in-class activities and teacher observation. Districts will also have access to a digital library of formative assessment tools, practices and professional development materials to improve the way they collect and use information about student learning. Interim assessments are given from time to time throughout the school year to measure student progress. They allow teachers to identify students’ strengths and problem areas and individualize instruction to help both children who are struggling and advanced students.

The summative assessments in English language arts and math will be administered at the end of the school year. These summative exams will build on Missouri’s existing foundation of rigorous performance-based assessments and will give teachers and parents a better understanding of a child’s progress from grade to grade. They will also enable educators to identify and address any gaps in learning before students enter college or the workforce.

Other Changes

Missouri has revised assessment administration to allow for more classroom instruction time. Rather than the full assessment, students in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 will take 30-minute survey assessments in English language arts and math (one hour total). Students in grades 5 and 8 – the transition grades – will continue to take the full assessment in English language arts and math, as well as the science assessment. 

Something New for 11^th Graders and Their Parents
 

For the first time, Missouri will provide a one-time administration of the ACT® for every 11^th grade student in the state. ACT® scores will allow teachers, students and parents to see whether a child is adequately prepared for college-level courses. The state-paid administration will also save families the testing fee.

MAP will continue to be a great way to gauge students’ performance from one grade level and course to another under the Missouri Learning Standards. With the new English language arts and math questions from SBAC, teachers, parents and students will gain an even better understanding of the depth of learning each child is achieving.