NWEA Testing

Data-driven decision making is a long-standing tenet of C-PP's commitment to improving student achievement. As a testament to that commitment, the District administers the North West Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) to ALL District students in grades 2 through 8 in the fall and again in the spring each year.

The NWEA MAP is a computerized adaptive testing system that tailors tests to a student's achievement level, and offers the District benefits such as fast turnaround of results, cost efficiencies, time savings, high security and accurate results.

With this tool in use, real student capabilities in Math and English Language Arts are identified in the first weeks of school, making it possible to place students in appropriate skill-level groups immediately. In the past, it was often mid-year before educators were able to assess the same capabilities. By then, there wasn't enough time left in the school year for interventions to have the desired impact on students. Plus, C-PP teachers take advantage of the critical data now at their disposal through NWEA testing to tailor learning plans and track progress for individual students.

In addition to the direct classroom benefits, the data generated from the NWEA testing helps C-PP respond to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements, which require that every single student must perform to the same standards if our District is going to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements.

C-PP piloted the NWEA testing process in the spring of 2006 with assessments administered to grades 2 and 5. We fully implemented regular semiannual testing beginning in the fall of 2006.