Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
The Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Grade Level Assessments evaluate students’ progress toward the Missouri Learning Standards. The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need in each grade level and course for success in college, other post-secondary training and careers. These expectations are aligned to the Show-Me Standards, which define what all Missouri high school graduates should know and be able to do. Find more information about the standards at https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/curriculum/mls-for-parents.
A policy statement, adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education, designated the purposes of the Missouri Assessment Program as:
Improving students’ acquisition of important knowledge, skills and competencies;
Monitoring the performance of Missouri’s education system;
Empowering students and their families to improve their educational prospects; and
Supporting the teaching and learning process.
Grade-Level Assessments provide important information that contributes to decisions concerning individual students,groups of students, and educational programs. Students in grades three through eight are administered assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Those in grades five and eight also take Science assessments. The effectiveness of an assessment program depends on the wise choice of assessment methods, appropriate administration procedures and accurate interpretation of results.
Grade-Level Assessments include multiple types of questions or items:
Selected Response (also known as multiple choice) items are composed of a question followed by a series of possible responses. Students must select the correct response or responses.
Constructed Response or Short Text items require students to supply an appropriate response rather than making a selection from a list of choices.
Performance Tasks/Events allow students to work through more complicated items using real world scenarios.
Writing Task items require students to write either narrative, information/explanatory or opinion/argumentative essays.
Each test produces an Individual Student Report (ISR) that includes an Achievement Level, which will describe the student performance as Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, or Advanced. The report also includes a short description of the knowledge and skills that are typically demonstrated by students in each Achievement Level. Green Ridge R-VIII has received electronic reports of our students’ ISR. Our counselor’s office has ordered a print of each students’ report. When the reports arrive at Green Ridge, we will disseminate them to families at parent/teacher conferences or upon request.
Thank you, and if you have any questions please contact the school at 660-527-3315.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) publishes a Guide to Interpreting Results (GIR) that provides additional details about the content of the Individual Student Reports. The GIR is available on the DESE website at: http://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/assessment/grade-level.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 5th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.