Students took a new package of NWEA MAP tests this year, the tests they took are aligned to the Common Core State Standards rather than the WKCE-Criterion Referenced Test and State Standards.  The new test RIT scores are consistent and we can confidently measure growth across the measures but if you see a difference that you did not expect in a student score it is most likely a curriculum alignment issue.  Please recall that we have aligned our ELA Curriculum to the CCSS but we have not aligned our Math Curriculum.  For more information regarding alignment please visit NWEA’s Common Core MAP and MAP for Primary Grades web page. 

To help our students advance their knowledge and skills it is essential we take advantage of the resources available through the Instructional Resources on the NWEA Reports page.  I suggest clicking on “Class by RIT” to access a functional breakdown of the data gathered through MAP testing.  When you click on “Reading”, “Math”, or “Language Usage” you see headings that are different than in previous years because of the CCSS MAP package we used.  When you click on the headings on this screen you will get a print out of DesCartes information that is useful but another option for you that I think is more teacher friendly is to take the information from the “Class Breakdown by Goal” page and then visit For the Teachers:  Resources for Teachers and utilize the Curriculum Ladders that are available.  Curriculum Ladders are a visual representation of the range of complexity for a set of skills based on NWEA’s DesCartes Continuum of Learning.   This website was recommended in a NWEA Webinar about the new Common Core MAP test package and includes other valuable resources for teachers.

Everyone in our district is working hard to help every child be successful; this tool can make sure our hard work is focused and productive!