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From the Desk of Dr. Halley: Information on Testing, Scores, and Reports

By Halley, Heath on February 22, 2019

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I begin this endeavor of providing information and explaining topics that are frequent conversations for district teachers and administration. In my goal to explain our Annual Performance Report (APR), I realized I must first provide you with background information and the history that has led us to where we are today. In segments 1-3, I have provided the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) explanation of the state’s testing process. This information below is all from DESE’s website.

The Missouri Assessment Program or more commonly known as MAP. MAP is designed to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in Missouri’s Learning Standards (MLS). The assessments yield information on academic achievement at the student, class, school, district, and state levels. This information is used to diagnose individual student strengths and weaknesses in relation to the instruction of the MLS, and to gauge the overall quality of education throughout Missouri. The MAP traces its origin to the 1993 Outstanding Schools Act. This act required that Missouri create a statewide assessment system that measured challenging academic standards. From this act, grade-span assessments were created that measured Missouri’s Show-Me standards. Originally, MAP was designed to be a grade-span test: Grades 3, 7, and 11 in Communication Arts, Grades 4, 8, and 10 in Mathematics, and Grades 3, 7, and 10 in Science.

In 2001, the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation was enacted. In accordance with the NCLB legislation, student performance, reported in terms of proficiency categories, is used to determine the adequate yearly progress of students at the school, district, and state levels. NCLB also required states to develop grade-level tests in both Reading and Mathematics to be administered in Grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. It also required that states have Science assessments to be administered at least once in Grades 3 through 5, once in Grades 6 through 9, and once in Grades 10 through 12 by the 2007–2008 school year. In 2008, grade-span tests were administered in Science in grades 5 and 8 for the first time.

Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, Missouri administered End-of-Course (EOC) assessments in lieu of High School grade-level assessments. Algebra I, English II and Biology were the first EOCs administered. The following year, Government, American History, English I, Algebra II and Geometry became operational. The move to EOC assessments was also a move to online testing. In the first few years of EOCs, districts had a choice between online and traditional paper/pencil testing. EOCs moved fully online in the fall of 2010. The 2014-2015 school year was another time of transition for the Missouri Assessment Program. Grade-Level assessments in English language arts and mathematics at grades 3-8 and science in grades 5 and 8 were administered fully online for the first time.

In the coming weeks, I will be posting more information to keep you informed and give you insights into how things work and why.