MCAP and MAP proficient

[Anonymous]

Did anybody else receive a letter from their school’s math department about upcoming MCAP and map testing? I can’t find a key on how they define proficiency on my son’s past map results.

And is anybody else making their kids complete the practice test in the links they provided?

[Anonymous]

MAP indicates your child’s RIT score and a level (below level through HighLevel) for specific domains that the exam covers for particular grades. MCPS has cut scores which signify whether a student is on-grade level. You can ask your student’s teacher what the cut score is for the grade.

MCAP is a state exam with cut scores that define proficiency on state standards. Teacher may be able to tell you the current cut score. Here is a sample: https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MD_MCAP_CutScores_ScaleScores_1312023%20(2).pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MAP indicates your child’s RIT score and a level (below level through HighLevel) for specific domains that the exam covers for particular grades. MCPS has cut scores which signify whether a student is on-grade level. You can ask your student’s teacher what the cut score is for the grade.

MCAP is a state exam with cut scores that define proficiency on state standards. Teacher may be able to tell you the current cut score. Here is a sample: https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MD_MCAP_CutScores_ScaleScores_1312023%20(2).pdf

I appreciate this information and the link.

Why would they cut whether or not your child is on or below grade level? This is information that parents should know.

[Anonymous]

MAP seems like a valid metric but MCAP is still too new and buggy to take seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAP indicates your child’s RIT score and a level (below level through HighLevel) for specific domains that the exam covers for particular grades. MCPS has cut scores which signify whether a student is on-grade level. You can ask your student’s teacher what the cut score is for the grade.

MCAP is a state exam with cut scores that define proficiency on state standards. Teacher may be able to tell you the current cut score. Here is a sample: https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MD_MCAP_CutScores_ScaleScores_1312023%20(2).pdf

I appreciate this information and the link.

Why would they cut whether or not your child is on or below grade level? This is information that parents should know.

By “cut scores” they mean threshold scores. Also, MAP uses the 75th percentile as the threshold for college and career ready. What schools do though is look to past MCAP/PARCC student performance and compare proficient scores to the corresponding MAP RIT score for those students. That’s how they define cut scores and how they predict MCAP success ahead of the test in April/May.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately they are starting to use MCAP and MISA scores to count for close to 20% of grade in 9th grade ( MCPS). This is not ideal because MCAP is not an ideal test !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately they are starting to use MCAP and MISA scores to count for close to 20% of grade in 9th grade ( MCPS). This is not ideal because MCAP is not an ideal test !

It isn't but hopefully they will have solved many of its problems when that time comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAP indicates your child’s RIT score and a level (below level through HighLevel) for specific domains that the exam covers for particular grades. MCPS has cut scores which signify whether a student is on-grade level. You can ask your student’s teacher what the cut score is for the grade.

MCAP is a state exam with cut scores that define proficiency on state standards. Teacher may be able to tell you the current cut score. Here is a sample: https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MD_MCAP_CutScores_ScaleScores_1312023%20(2).pdf

I appreciate this information and the link.

Why would they cut whether or not your child is on or below grade level? This is information that parents should know.

By “cut scores” they mean threshold scores. Also, MAP uses the 75th percentile as the threshold for college and career ready. What schools do though is look to past MCAP/PARCC student performance and compare proficient scores to the corresponding MAP RIT score for those students. That’s how they define cut scores and how they predict MCAP success ahead of the test in April/May.

Are you sure? That would mean it's definitionally impossible for more than 25% of graduates to be ready for college or career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately they are starting to use MCAP and MISA scores to count for close to 20% of grade in 9th grade ( MCPS). This is not ideal because MCAP is not an ideal test !

It isn't but hopefully they will have solved many of its problems when that time comes.

What problems, specifically, do MCAP and MISA have? I hear lots of griping but nothing beyond my kid sucked at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAP indicates your child’s RIT score and a level (below level through HighLevel) for specific domains that the exam covers for particular grades. MCPS has cut scores which signify whether a student is on-grade level. You can ask your student’s teacher what the cut score is for the grade.

MCAP is a state exam with cut scores that define proficiency on state standards. Teacher may be able to tell you the current cut score. Here is a sample: https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MD_MCAP_CutScores_ScaleScores_1312023%20(2).pdf

I appreciate this information and the link.

Why would they cut whether or not your child is on or below grade level? This is information that parents should know.

By “cut scores” they mean threshold scores. Also, MAP uses the 75th percentile as the threshold for college and career ready. What schools do though is look to past MCAP/PARCC student performance and compare proficient scores to the corresponding MAP RIT score for those students. That’s how they define cut scores and how they predict MCAP success ahead of the test in April/May.

Are you sure? That would mean it's definitionally impossible for more than 25% of graduates to be ready for college or career.

Yes, I’m sure. Goggle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately they are starting to use MCAP and MISA scores to count for close to 20% of grade in 9th grade ( MCPS). This is not ideal because MCAP is not an ideal test !

It isn't but hopefully they will have solved many of its problems when that time comes.

What problems, specifically, do MCAP and MISA have? I hear lots of griping but nothing beyond my kid sucked at it.

There's a disconnect that hasn't yet been fully resolved between the state standards/subject expectations on which MCAP/MISA tests are based and the curricula used in MCPS. Hard for kids to demonstrate what they haven't been taught or properly comprehend questions when the context in which they are set is unfamiliar.

MSDE had given some warning to MCPS and other districts, but curricular overhaul is a slow process. I think they are hoping to have it better covered within each subject by the time the 20% kicks in, but there will be a lagging effect from the prior knowledge base.

In other news, the new state superintendent just said she wants to overhaul those tests, so...SNAFU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAP indicates your child’s RIT score and a level (below level through HighLevel) for specific domains that the exam covers for particular grades. MCPS has cut scores which signify whether a student is on-grade level. You can ask your student’s teacher what the cut score is for the grade.

MCAP is a state exam with cut scores that define proficiency on state standards. Teacher may be able to tell you the current cut score. Here is a sample: https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MD_MCAP_CutScores_ScaleScores_1312023%20(2).pdf

I appreciate this information and the link.

Why would they cut whether or not your child is on or below grade level? This is information that parents should know.

By “cut scores” they mean threshold scores. Also, MAP uses the 75th percentile as the threshold for college and career ready. What schools do though is look to past MCAP/PARCC student performance and compare proficient scores to the corresponding MAP RIT score for those students. That’s how they define cut scores and how they predict MCAP success ahead of the test in April/May.

Are you sure? That would mean it's definitionally impossible for more than 25% of graduates to be ready for college or career.

Yes, I’m sure. Goggle it.

It’s not flattering but it’s probably accurate. Only 25% or so of people really need to go to college.

There are people who don’t go to college but have careers so not sure why that threshold isn’t lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately they are starting to use MCAP and MISA scores to count for close to 20% of grade in 9th grade ( MCPS). This is not ideal because MCAP is not an ideal test !

It isn't but hopefully they will have solved many of its problems when that time comes.

What problems, specifically, do MCAP and MISA have? I hear lots of griping but nothing beyond my kid sucked at it.

Well, the test it replaced had most kids as proficient but this new and unproven test had very bad numbers. I find it hard to believe the kids changed so drastically the same year they changed the test to this new unproven one. Still the numbers have been improving so maybe in a couple years they'll have worked out the bugs.