Why map test in reading and math 3 times/yr at kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

My kindergartener started in person at 2021-22 school year. I wonder is this the first year they do map testing in reading and math 3 times a year to measure what? There was no virtual or zoom from mcps, so do they try to measure learning loss of preschool years ? What do the statistics use for, individual school or county wide or state wide? Does individual school do anything if below or at or above grade level?

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, MAP is my favorite assessment. I get the results within 24 hours and can measure progress over the year. All other standardized testing is worthless as the results generally take 6 months, but this one can be used to help target strengths and weaknesses right away. I also use it to create my groups.

As a parent, I also really like it. It is the one test where it is easy to follow the progress and make sure that your child is hitting all measurement topics. Now that my older child is in middle school, I have a one sheet of paper that has him tracked all the way from kindergarten- it's great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, MAP is my favorite assessment. I get the results within 24 hours and can measure progress over the year. All other standardized testing is worthless as the results generally take 6 months, but this one can be used to help target strengths and weaknesses right away. I also use it to create my groups.

As a parent, I also really like it. It is the one test where it is easy to follow the progress and make sure that your child is hitting all measurement topics. Now that my older child is in middle school, I have a one sheet of paper that has him tracked all the way from kindergarten- it's great.

Not a teacher, but I really like having it as a parent. It never occurred to me to think of the data as being about anything other than checking on how my kid is doing and three times per year is good for that.

[Anonymous]

It was always three times a year, at least from when my now-HS kid was in ES. In later grades, I think one of the administrations is sometimes optional, but in ES they always gave it three times a year.

As the PPs said, this is one standardized test that is actually helpful for making adjustments to individual instruction in the classroom.

And if there's a huge discrepancy between what the teacher is seeing in the classroom and what a child scores on the tests, that's a sign that adults may need to take a closer look and see what's going on. For instance, kids with ADHD may compensate in the classroom but have trouble with long standardized tests, or kids who struggle with some element of the classroom environment might surprise with stronger MAP scores than their classroom grades would seem to predict.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Got it, and I was not aware that it’s always 3 times map testing done per year starting at kindergarten year. My kid is a troublemaker that I got calls & emails from teachers, and I heard more complaints from Parent teacher conference with teacher comments about her behaviors.

She has adhd and ASD with IEP in place since she was little. They told me that her map scores are really strong, equivalent to letter J in reading and score of 215 in math. They told me there’s nothing that they can do and she knew the curriculum. Even I appreciate to see the progress of my child from testing result 3 times a year, but what can I do with the results as parents if school says there’s nothing they can do about it.

[Anonymous]

You can use it to advocate a better iep, for example. It’s one of the better tests.