By Theodore Scheps
Curriculum Coordinator, Office of Catholic Schools
Beginning this school year, 2019-20, all Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville will administer the NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Growth Reading, Math and Language Usage assessments in grades 3 through 7 in early fall and late spring, with an optional winter testing window. Students in grade 8 will take the MAP Growth 6+ and/or Algebra I Math assessment. In addition, all Catholic elementary schools will use the NWEA MAP Reading Fluency assessment in grades K, 1, and 2 to measure fluency, foundational skills and comprehension.
These assessments replace the summative assessment, Terra Nova 3, previously administered each March to students in grades 3, 5, and 7. Each of our Catholic elementary schools will communicate MAP information and specific testing dates to parents.
MAP Growth and Reading Fluency, administered on either a tablet or computer, will provide a personalized assessment experience for your child that adapts to your child’s level of learning. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If the answer is incorrect, the next question is easier. This results in a detailed picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn. Due to the online nature of MAP assessments, results are immediate and accurate, helping teachers to identify the strength and growth opportunities for each child in their classrooms.
Results from the first testing window, in September 2019, will help our teachers plan meaningful instruction and set curricular goals to meet the needs of all Archdiocese of Louisville students. Then, results from the optional winter and/or spring testing window will provide individualized growth data which teachers and students can use to set goals.
In shifting to this interim assessment model, our students will be joining nearly 10 million students across the country, including 400,000 Catholic school students, who currently use the NWEA MAP suite of assessments.
We are truly excited to focus on the individual achievement and growth of the students in the Archdiocese of Louisville with this shift to the NWEA MAP suite of assessments. We look forward to sharing more information with you throughout the 2019-20 school year.