Today parents received an email reminding them of tomorrow night's meeting at Elm School (6:30 p.m.) hosted by Dr. Kevin Russell, the Co-Assistant Superintendent of Learning (Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction). The topic of the meeting is "Interpreting MAP Assessment Results." We have copied the email below.
According to the email, parents are encouraged to bring their children's recent Winter and Fall MAP test results, in order to be able to "actively participate." We hope "actively participate" will mean more than parents looking at the score reports and comparing them to general informational slides presented by Dr. Russell via a power point presentation. We hope parents will be allowed to ask questions and receive answers. If so, we encourage any parent who attends to ask the following questions:
1. We understand that at least one school experienced technical difficulties during the MAP testing. As a result, some students were unable to "complete" their tests (meaning their test did not "end" when they could no longer answer questions, but they were told to stop because time was up). We have been told that computers loaded the tests slowly or froze in the middle of tests and some students had to restart the test. Many students ran out of time. So the question to ask is: Are the test results valid? Do the scores accurately reflect a student's knowledge of the test subject? If not, have parents been told to disregard the scores and is the district disregarding them as well?
2. What training have teachers received on test score interpretation and the use of the "Descartes?" Do teachers ever discuss the "Descartes" with parents, and if so, when?
3. What analysis, if any, has the Assessment Department conducted on how Math MAP scores have been impacted over the last 3 years as a result of compacting 3rd and 4th grade math during 3rd grade? The comparison would be this year's 3rd grade MAP scores to those 3rd grade MAP scores from 2 years ago. Have Math MAP scores gone up, gone down or stayed the same? If an analysis has been done, when will it be presented to the BOE and the community?
4. What analysis, if any, has the Assessment Department conducted on how Math MAP scores have been impacted over the last 2 years as a result of accelerating all 4th grade math students by one year (so they are learning 5th grade math)? The comparison would be this year's 4th grade MAP scores compared to last year's 4th grade scores. Have Math MAP scores gone up, gone down or stayed the same? If an analysis has been done, when will it be presented to the BOE and the community?
5. What analysis, if any, has the Assessment Department conducted on how Math MAP scores of students who OPTED up in middle school math have been impacted? If an analysis has been done, when will it be presented to the BOE and the community?
6. What analysis, if any, has the Assessment Department conducted on how the Language Arts MAP scores have been impacted as a result of the changes to the literacy model currently being used in D181? If an analysis has been done, when will it be presented to the BOE and the community?
7. In the past, when MAP presentations were given, the Assessment Director gave the presentation. (The first assessment director D181 hired was Lori Gehrke, the second one was Bonnie Strykowski, the third one was Dr. Russell, the current one is Dawn Benaitis.) Today's reminder announces that Dr. Russell will be the presenter along with "the Department of Learning." Will Ms. Benaitis -- a highly paid administrator -- run this meeting? Will she explain how to interpret MAP data and do more than read from a script? Will she answer parent questions and address parent concerns? Since she was promoted to replace Dr. Russell as the Director of Assessment when he was promoted to Co-Assistant Superintendent of Learning, shouldn't she be handling "all things assessment?"As taxpayers, you have the right to ask and receive an answer to questions on the "value added" by yet another highly paid central administrator.
We hope that parents who attend the meeting will submit comments reflecting on what transpires during the meeting and any useful information you may learn.
Email from District:
Thursday, February 20
“Interpreting MAP Assessment Results”
A Presentation in the Learning for All Family Education Series
Elm School, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
No pre-registration required.
“Interpreting MAP Assessment Results”
A Presentation in the Learning for All Family Education Series
Elm School, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
No pre-registration required.
Assistant Superintendent of Learning (CAI) Dr. Kevin Russell and the Department of Learning will present an overview of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment used in Grades 2-8. Attendees will learn how MAP is used to help guide instruction in District 181 schools. The session will close with an overview of how parents can interpret the data in their child’s results. Parents are encouraged to bring their child’s fall and/or winter MAP scores to actively participate. Visit our website to learn more about each event in the Learning for All Family Education Series and access select videotaped sessions:www.d181.org > Learning > Family Education Series.
