Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a state- aligned assessment program that provides educators with the information they need to improve teaching and learning. 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 four times a year, MAP test results help educators make student-focused, data-driven decisions.

MAP is a computerized adaptive test, which means that when students are taking a MAP test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. Typically, a student will answer approximately half of the items correctly and half of the items incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level.

North Mason students will typically be tested once in the fall and once in the spring. In special programs, some students may be tested in the winter.  See the MAP Parent Tool Kit for more information.

MAP results are used to measure each student’s progress in school. MAP tests are important to teachers because they keep track of progress and growth in basic skills. They let teachers know where student’s strengths are and if help is needed in any specific areas. Teachers use this information to help them guide instruction in the classroom. It allows educators to look across the district or school and assess the impact their instruction is having on students.

Standardized assessments are efficient means of collecting information about our district’s progress and about each student’s strengths and needs. This information can help the district make decisions about resource allocations, professional development planning, program analysis, and to gain a better understanding of the probability of students passing the state exam. Data from district assessments, such as MAP assessments, can lead to better instructional decisions at the classroom, school, and district level.

Please feel free to call Kyle Ehlis, Director of Inclusive Education at (360) 277-2112 or email kehlis@northmasonschools.org if you have questions regarding MAP.