Measures of Academic Progress
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a state-aligned computerized adaptive assessment program developed by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). It provides educators with the information they need to improve teaching and learning in Reading, Mathematics, and Language Usage. The difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. Educators use the growth and achievement data from MAP to develop targeted instructional strategies and to plan school improvement. With the ability to test students up to two times a year (fall and spring), MAP test results help educators make student-focused, data-driven decisions. All students in grades 2 through 10 participate in the testing. This is a link for MAP resources: parent toolkit (link)
RIT Scores
Tests developed by the NWEA use a scale called RIT to measure student achievement and growth. RIT stands for Rasch UnIT, which is a measurement scale developed to simplify the interpretation of test scores.
The RIT score relates directly to the curriculum scale in each subject area. It is an equal-interval scale, like feet and inches, so scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages. Because the tests are adaptive and the test items displayed are based on student performance, not age or grade, a score means the same thing. For example, a third grader who received a score of 210 and a fourth grader who received a score of 210 are learning at the same level. This allows growth to be measured.
Lexile Scores
If you are the parent of a school-aged child, you may have already heard of Lexile scores. Lexiles refer to a measurement of reading abilities based on the Lexile Framework for Reading, a nationally accepted scale designed to measure text and reading abilities. Lexile scores are used by educators not only to measure and track a child’s reading ability and progress, but also to help them choose appropriate reading material for their abilities, hence allowing them to gain practice reading without becoming frustrated by the material.
An individual’s Lexile scores are determined by administering a test , such as the MAP, that measures both recognition and comprehension of text. The scale for Lexile scores ranges from 200 for beginning readers to 1700 for advanced reading material. Once achild’s Lexilescores is determined, teachers and parents can reference a list of books that fall within the child’s reading abilities based on Lexile scores. Frequent reading outside of school has been proven to boost academic success, so the selection of appropriate reading material may help a child succeed in school by increasing independent reading.
Thousands of titles have been indexed on the Lexile scale and most school personnel and even public librarians are familiar with the Lexile Framework. A parent or child can go to the library and easily choose books that are within the child’s range of reading abilities, or parents can challenge children to try a book that is indexed slightly above their current Lexile scores. Parents can also ask their child’s teacher to provide a suggested reading list based on their child’s most recent Lexile scores.
Visit Lexile Framework for Reading at: http://www.lexile.com/
