Achievement Cut Scores Set for Missouri Assessment Program

01/14/15

At its January meeting, the State Board of Education approved achievement level cut scores for the spring 2015 English language arts and mathematics portions of the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) for grades 3-8. The scores were determined through an inclusive process that involved teachers, parents, higher education faculty, business leaders and other community members in member states of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Educators who work with English language learners and students with disabilities were included to help ensure that achievement levels would be fair and appropriate for all students.

“These scores provide students, teachers and parents with insight into a child’s depth of understanding early enough to provide extra support, if needed,” said Sharon Helwig, assistant commissioner for the Office of College and Career Readiness. “When children score in the proficient or advanced range, we know they have a greater chance at avoiding remediation in higher education.”

Achievement level setting, also known as standard setting, makes it possible to create categories of performance on an assessment. Missouri educators were integral in providing feedback on this work as well as the design and development of the assessments.

Four achievement levels indicate a student’s demonstrated understanding and ability to apply subject matter as defined by the Missouri Learning Standards:

Below Basic (Level 1) – minimal understanding

Basic (Level 2) – partial understanding

Proficient (Level 3) – adequate understanding

Advanced (Level 4) – thorough understanding

The levels define student performance based on yearly English language arts and mathematics assessments for grades 3-8 in Missouri public and charter schools.

English Language Arts Scale Scores

Grade

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

3

Below 2367

2367-2431

2432-2489

2490+

4

Below 2416

2416-2472

2473-2532

2533+

5

Below 2442

2442-2501

2502-2581

2582+

6

Below 2457

2457-2530

2531-2617

2618+

7

Below 2479

2479-2551

2552-2648

2649+

8

Below 2487

2487-2566

2567-2667

2668+

 

Mathematics Scale Scores

Grade

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

3

Below 2381

2381-2435

2436-2500

2501+

4

Below 2411

2411-2484

2485-2548

2549+

5

Below 2455

2455-2527

2528-2578

2579+

6

Below 2473

2473-2551

2552-2609

2610+

7

Below 2484

2484-2566

2567-2634

2635+

8

Below 2504

2504-2585

2586-2652

2653+

2015 marks the first time 16 states will give the same assessments created through the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. As Missouri moves to new assessments aligned to the standards put in place in 2010, the yearly MAP assessments continue to yield important information about what children know and are able to do in each grade and whether or not they are achieving college and career ready goals. One of the primary goals of Missouri’s Top 10 by 20 initiative is that all Missouri students will graduate ready for college and career.