March 2017 Newsletter
Iowa Assessment Administration
Iowa Assessments will be administered this spring from April 3 - 14. The high school test date is Wednesday, April 5. Testing materials are being delivered by central stores this week. Administration modules for teachers/staff and building administrators/test coordinators are available on KITE. For more information, reference the Critical Iowa Assessment Information Document. NWEA MAP: Interpreting Growth for District Goals
To assist with interpretation of NWEA MAP reports, we have created a MAP data cheat sheet. Metric definitions and where to locate reports for specific purposes are included. These definitions are also included on the logic tab of the MAP Goal Monitoring Tableau dashboard. MAP Survey and Dates for 2017-18
The MAP testing coordinators at each building received a survey regarding district supports for MAP testing and testing window dates for the 2017-18 school year. Test coordinators have until March 10 complete the survey. Thank you for your feedback! ACT Date for Spring 2018
We just received the ACT date for spring 2018: Tuesday, February 27. We are working to get the 2017-18 school year calendar updated to reflect this date. |
NWEA MAP: Individual Student Goal Setting
We are getting a common question: Which growth target should be used, fall to spring or mid-year to spring, when setting spring individual student goals on the MAP? The short answer is: the highest RIT score. In the fall, students receive growth projections for both the mid-year (winter) and spring. These growth projections are based on maintaining the student’s percentile rank in the national norms. If a student scores at the 50th percentile in the fall, the growth projections for mid-year and spring will be RIT scores at the 50th percentile. If the student does not meet their mid-year growth target and scores below the 50th percentile in the mid-year, NWEA will recalculate a spring growth target based on maintaining that lower percentile rank. When setting goals for the spring for the student, the original fall to spring growth target should be used, which is the highest of the two RIT score growth targets. If the student exceeds their mid-year growth target and scores above the 50th percentile in the mid-year, NWEA will recalculate a spring growth target based on maintaining that higher percentile rank. When setting goals for the spring for the student, the mid-year to spring growth target should be used, which is the highest of the two RIT score growth targets.
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UPCOMING DATES
February 14 - March 9: Grades K-12: ELPA21 testing
January 30 - March 10: Grade 4: NAEP (selected schools only) January 30 - March 10: Grade 8: NAEP (excludes Hoyt) |
April 3 - 14: Grades 3-11: Iowa Assessments
April 5: Iowa Assessments test date for high schools April 19: Grade 11: ACT May 3: Grade 11: ACT make-ups |
WAIT. WHAT?
Dear Data Diva, We love the new standards based report card. The information being showcased is great for parents and students. We have one concern. The report card is more than one page and the students name is only printed on the first page. What happens if we are suddenly struck by a rogue windstorm in the front office? How will we know which page belongs to which student? --Watching for Wind
Dear Watching for Wind,
We all know that Iowa weather can change in 10 minutes (especially lately), but I am truly hoping you don’t have rogue wind storms often. We have taken your concern to heart. The standards based report card will now include the students name on each page so that you can reassemble the report cards if the wind storm hits during printing season. Good luck and stay safe!
As Always,
Data Diva
Dear Watching for Wind,
We all know that Iowa weather can change in 10 minutes (especially lately), but I am truly hoping you don’t have rogue wind storms often. We have taken your concern to heart. The standards based report card will now include the students name on each page so that you can reassemble the report cards if the wind storm hits during printing season. Good luck and stay safe!
As Always,
Data Diva
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