Can someone tell me how MAP test results are used in terms of placement? My son's new school just did testing and when I look at the RIT chart, I can't tell what his instructional level would be. Based on his math score, he could be above 95th percentile two grades up, or somewhere above the 90th pct 3 grades up. So where does that mean he should be taught? How do these scores aid placement?

His reading seems to be in a range of 3-5 grades ahead, depending whether I look at the 95th pct & above, or the 90th and above. What would that mean in terms of instructional level?

thanks!

Depends on the school. Overall, though, it seems like very few schools actually do grade placement based on MAP scores. If you are lucky they use them as a screening tool and will then to other achievement testing.

I believe MAP could be and should be used for placement and at a minimum for grouping. They do that to some degree in my DS's current school but did not at all in his former. There, it was used solely to develop a cut score that could be used to predict success on NCLB tests. Nonetheless, his high scores were noticed by the prinicpal in fall 1st grade and she suggested additional testing that led to a mid year grade skip.


You may find this thread useful.
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/123198/2.html

Thanks for the info and the link. That was helpful.

This is a really polite version of what I was going to relate about our experience (middle school). To use MAP scores for placement, someone in the school would have to actually *look* at them. When I did some stealth agitating last year, I received a call from the school learning coordinator (also the in-building TAG contact), and when she called, she said in an awed/stunned tone "I knew [name of DD} is bright, but I just looked at her MAP score, and I don't think I've ever seen one that high." This wouldn't be so irritating if they didn't make such a big deal about how they are totally on top of TAG identification and services (and MAP is an advertised element of this, albeit only in its 2nd year) so that parent requests are unnecessary/unwelcome.

Know your school.

I don't believe you can meaningfully convert MAP scores to instructional levels. Even using the 95% threshold, DS as a 4th grader would presumably be at a 11th grade level but I don't believe that he was really at that level. I also do not think schools, including our district, uses them for placement purposes. It is used to as a baseline to support that students are learning sufficiently and progressing sufficiently.

Since there are 3 versions of MAP (K-2, 2-5, 6+), it would be really difficult to compare scores across versions. It is my understanding that even though MAP claims to keep going as long as you answer questions correctly, that doesn't happen in the 2-5 version. You may get a few of the questions given to the higher grades, but not all. Once your child starts getting really high scores on the 2-5 version, it may be useful to ask the school to switch your child to the 6+ version so there is more meaningful data for the teachers.

I agree with the others who have recommended being placed with other students scoring the same levels, if possible. Also, can't hurt to ask how they use the MAP scores. The answer may be revealing.