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Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

MAP Overview

The Measures of Academic Progress or MAP tests are achievement measures in mathematics, reading, and science. SAISD students in 3rd-8th grades will take the MAP assessments in fall, winter and spring. 2nd grade students will take the MAP assessments in winter and spring.

Students will access the MAP assessments on computers during the instructional day. Unlike paper and pencil tests with a set group of items, the MAP assessments adjust to each student’s performance, allowing an appropriate assessment to be developed for that student. Because of this technology, the MAP assessment system is able to accommodate and accurately assess students at a variety of achievement levels.

MAP RIT Scale

After each MAP assessment, students receive a RIT score. The score reflects the student’s academic knowledge, skills, and abilities. The RIT (Rasch Unit) scale is a stable, equal-interval scale. 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 growth a student has made.

MAP assessments use the RIT scale to create a grade-independent RIT score, which indicates the level of question difficulty a given student is capable of answering correctly about 50% of the time. RIT scores help educators understand what every child is ready to learn. MAP tests produce scores that make it possible to monitor student growth from year to year.

MAP and Classroom Instruction

MAP assessments help students and parents measure and monitor each student’s progress in school. MAP assessments assist teachers in tracking student progress and growth in academic skills. Teachers will use the information to design and guide instruction in the classroom based on each student’s strengths and readiness for new concepts.