Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment MAP alignment - Common Core v. State Standards

It recently came to my attention that not all MAP tests are created equal. Last year, my 4th graders were tested on MAP aligned to our state standards while this year the MAP testing is aligned to Common Core standards. The changes in the scores were particularly extreme for DD. Although we did not do any math acceleration this summer, DD's math score rose 8 points while her reading score dropped 5 points. What is interesting is that DD complained that there were "weird" words on the MAP reading test which she had never seen and that it was confusing. DS, whose reading score only dropped 1 point, proceeded to tell her how she could have just figured it out. I wasn't really paying attention at the time and they won't remember since it was from September. Anyhow, I am thinking alignment to different standards can affect the MAP scores and wondered if anyone else has noticed anything. Of course, the largest change was only +8 points and all the changes could have other causes. However, it was interesting that the math scores rose while the reading scores dropped for both DD and DS although less significantly for DS.

DS reading went up from spring by 6 points. It went up another 10 points for winter MAP (taken today). His math went down 10 points spring to fall. He hasn't yet taken winter math. (h also switched from primary MAP to 2-5 MAP)

That is interesting. Our results actually say "Common Core" on them, so I assumed that they were all aligned.

MAP renorms every 3 years. So, that makes summer 2014. Next fall results will be the new norms. AND they do go back and put old scores under the new norms. At least they did in 2011.

My DS 5th grade had a 4 pt drop in math from spring and 2 pt drop in Reading and LA. (I think). Last year he scores went down a few points in fall but ended the year 18 pts up in math and double digits in Reading and LA.

I wonder what this change up will do. He has taken MAPs from 1st grade on. He is in a new school that just started MAPs this year. He thinks he has a leg up with all the experience... LOL

There are ranges for the subtests not individual percentiles. You can get the subtest scores from the school.

low <21st percentile
lowav 21-40th percentile
avg 41-60th percentile
hiavg 61-80th percentile
high >80th percentile

I believe your school does have a more detailed report. It seems they have shown me this in previous meetings with them. They need to come up with some areas that need to show improvement and this is where they can dig it up. I am not sure it gives percentages. It would be worth asking the school.

That's the trouble with speculation. There are often overlapping reasons for a change in scores.

Call me cynical but just as likely they are concerned about the scores potentially dropping. There has beeen so much press about expecting standardized testing to be lower until the common core curriculum has been implemented for a while and that it would not be a reflection of the lack of learning in the classroom, etc.

The buyers (school districts) have the choice of standards. We just implemented the Common Core this Fall but many other states had already adopted Common Core as their state standard in previous years. I am not sure how it compares with ALEKS, but I do remember that you can assess your child's performance level against individual state standards and the Common Core standards.