The MAP is designed to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in Missouri’s Learning Standards (MLS). The assessments yield information on academic achievement at the student, class, school, district, and state levels. This information is used to diagnose individual student strengths and weaknesses in relation to the instruction of the MLS, and to gauge the overall quality of education throughout Missouri.

The MAP traces its origin to the 1993 Outstanding Schools Act. This act required that Missouri create a statewide assessment system that measured challenging academic standards. From this act, grade-span assessments were created that measured Missouri’s Show-Me standards. Originally, MAP was designed to be a grade-span test: Grades 3, 7, and 11 in Communication Arts, Grades 4, 8, and 10 in Mathematics, and Grades 3, 7, and 10 in Science.

In 2001, the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation was enacted. In accordance with the NCLB legislation, student performance, reported in terms of proficiency categories, is used to determine the adequate yearly progress of students at the school, district, and state levels. NCLB also required states to develop grade-level tests in both Reading and Mathematics to be administered in Grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. It also required that states have Science assessments to be administered at least once in Grades 3 through 5, once in Grades 6 through 9, and once in Grades 10 through 12 by the 2007–2008 school year. In 2008, grade-span tests were administered in Science in grades 5 and 8 for the first time.

In lieu of High School grade-level assessments, Missouri began administering End-of-Course (EOC) assessments starting in the 2008-2009 school year. Algebra I, English II and Biology were the first EOCs administered. The following year, Government, American History, English I, Algebra II and Geometry became operational. The move to EOC assessments was also a move to online testing.

The 2014-2015 school year was another time of transition for the Missouri Assessment Program. Grade-Level assessments in English language arts and mathematics at grades 3-8 and science in grades 5 and 8 were administered fully online for the first time.

The Guide to the Missouri Assessment Program is a living document that will be updated as more information becomes available. When each new version is released, communications will be sent to each District Testing Coordinator, and the version change will be noted on the DESE website.

Updates/Changes for 2024-2025

Fall
No Changes

Spring
End-of-Course assessment administration moves from NWEA Nextera to DRC INSIGHT.

The following information reflects district cost for statewide assessments for the 2020-2021 school year. The pricing for assessments used for accountability purposes reflect no total increase in cost to school districts.

Grade-Level

End-of-Course

Other Assessments

*Required For Accountability

Overview - MAP Grade-Level Assessments

The Grade-Level assessment is a yearly standards-based test that measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Missouri. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses the information obtained through the MAP Grade-Level Assessments to monitor the progress of Missouri’s students in meeting the Missouri Learning Standards, to inform the public and the state legislature about students’ performance, and to help make informed decisions about educational issues.

About the Assessment

Large Print, Braille, or Paper Based edition is required by an IEP/504 plan. For students testing via these alternative methods, Test Examiners will be responsible for transcribing student responses into INSIGHT.

• The English Language Arts Assessments consist of either three sessions (in Grades 3, 5, 6, and 7) or four sessions (in Grades 4 and 8).
• At Grades 4 and 8, the first session contains passage‑based items, including a passage‑based writing prompt. Scoring rubrics are posted on the DESE website at https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/assessment/grade-level. All sessions contain selected‑response and technology‑enhanced items.
• The Mathematics Assessments consist of three sessions. The first and second sessions contain selected‑response items and technology‑enhanced items. The third session contains a performance event.
• The Science Assessments consist of two sessions. Both sessions contain constructed‑response items, multiple‑choice items, and technology‑enhanced items.

Participation

All students in grades 3-8 in Missouri public and charter schools take the Grade-Level assessment.

• English language arts (ELA) is administered in grades 3-8.
• Mathematics is administered in grades 3-8.
• Science is administered in grades 5 and 8.

A few groups of students may be exempt from certain portions or all of the assessment. Those include:

• Students whose IEP teams have determined that the MAP-A is the appropriate assessment do not take the Grade-Level assessment.
• English Learners (ELs) who have been in the United States for 12 cumulative months or fewer as of April 1 may be exempted from one administration of the English Language Arts assessment. All other content areas must be assessed.
• Foreign exchange students are allowed, but are not required, to take the assessment. This is a district decision.
• Homeschooled students may take part in the assessment at the local district's discretion.
• Private school students are not required to take the Grade-Level assessment.

Resources/Training

The MAP Grade-Level assessments have a number of resources available for LEAs to use to prepare students for state testing.

Online Tools Training (OTTs)
https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MO/portals/mo

OTTs give users the ability to experiment with tools available in the INSIGHT testing platform on a variety of item types. The OTTs allow users to become comfortable with using the built in system tools prior to the summative assessment. The OTTs are accessible at any time with no limits on usage. The OTTs are NOT designed to demonstrate complete coverage of the tested content, and are NOT scored. Rather, items have been chosen to demonstrate online assessment features and uses.

NOTE: The OTTs are only accessible via Google Chrome.

Test Tutorials
https://mo.drcedirect.com/default.aspx?leapp=General+Information
Available on the Portal under My Applications> General Information>Test Tutorials

Test Tutorials allow users to watch recorded videos that demonstrate the features of INSIGHT and the tools that are used for the operational assessments. Test Tutorials are available for all subjects and are sorted by content into two categories:

• General testing topics include tutorials on topics such as testing basics, using the help feature and finishing the test.
• Advanced Tools show grade and include tutorials on topics such as highlighting, using a ruler, graphing and more.

Practice Form

The secure practice form is available in the INSIGHT platform. The released practice form is available to download from either the DRC Portal or the DESE Assessment web page.

The practice form mirrors the operational assessment and gives users the ability to see the types of items that will be on the assessment and, if taking the practice test online, become comfortable with answering items within the INSIGHT testing platform.

Training
Prior to test administration, test examiners must:

• Watch training videos deemed appropriate by their district testing coordinator (DTC)
• Familiarize themselves with the testing manual
• Participate in any district created training

Overview – End-of-course Assessments

The End-of-Course (EOC) assessments are a set of standards-based tests that measure specific skills defined for each content area by the state of Missouri.

About The Assessment

End-of-Course Assessments are available in the secure online browser, NWEA Nextera (Fall) and DRC INSIGHT (Spring), unless a Large Print, Braille, or Paper Based edition is required by an IEP/504 plan. For students testing via these alternative methods, Test Examiners will be responsible for transcribing student responses into the online system.

• The English Language Arts Assessments consist of two sessions. The first session contains selected-response items, technology-enhanced items, and listening passages. The second session contains one passage set with a passage-based writing prompt. English I and English II scoring rubrics are posted on the DESE website at https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/assessment/end-course.
• The Mathematics Assessments consist of two sessions. The first session contains selected response, constructed-response, and technology-enhanced items. The second session contains a performance event (PE).
• The Science and Social Studies Assessments consist of a single session that contains selected-response, constructed-response, and technology-enhanced items.
• The Personal Finance Assessment consists of a single session of multiple-choice items.

Participation

Students in Missouri, including Missouri Option Program students, have four End-of-Course assessments that are required prior to high school graduation: Algebra I, Biology, English II and Government. Optional assessments are available for local accountability in Algebra II, American History, English I, Geometry, Personal Finance, and Physical Science. For students who complete the Algebra I EOC assessment prior to high school, Algebra II is the required high school mathematics assessment for accountability purposes.

A few groups of students may be exempt from certain portions or all of the assessment. Those include:

• Those students whose IEP teams have determined that the MAP-A is the appropriate assessment do not take End-of-Course assessments.
• English Learners who have been in the United States for 12 cumulative months or fewer as of April 1 may be exempted from one administration of the English Language Arts assessment. English II must still be assessed prior to graduation.
• Foreign exchange students are allowed, but not required, to take the assessment. This is a district decision.
• Homeschooled students may take part in the assessment at the local district's discretion.
• Private school students are not required to take the Grade-Level assessment.

Personal Finance

Students who are taking a course in which the Personal Finance competencies are embedded are required to take the Personal Finance assessment. For students who are enrolled in a stand-alone Personal Finance course, the assessment is optional. Districts have the flexibility to set their own passing rate for all other students who take the Personal Finance Assessment.

Districts have the option to allow students to “test out” in order to receive the ½ unit of credit in Personal Finance. To “test out,” a student must attain a score of 90% or higher on the Personal Finance assessment.

Resources/Training

The End-of-Course assessments have a number of resources available for LEAs to use to prepare students for state testing.

Online Tools Training (OTTs)
https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MO/portals/mo

OTTs give users the ability to experiment with tools available in the INSIGHT testing platform on a variety of item types. The OTTs allow users to become comfortable with using the built in system tools prior to the summative assessment. The OTTs are accessible at any time with no limits on usage. The OTTs are NOT designed to demonstrate complete coverage of the tested content, and are NOT scored. Rather, items have been chosen to demonstrate online assessment features and uses.

NOTE: The OTTs are only accessible via Google Chrome.

Test Tutorials
https://mo.drcedirect.com/default.aspx?leapp=General+Information
Available on the Portal under My Applications> General Information>Test Tutorials

Test Tutorials allow users to watch recorded videos that demonstrate the features of INSIGHT and the tools that are used for the operational assessments. Test Tutorials are available for all subjects and are sorted by content into two categories:

• General testing topics include tutorials on topics such as testing basics, using the help feature and finishing the test.
• Advanced Tools show grade and include tutorials on topics such as highlighting, using a ruler, graphing and more.

Overview – MAP-A Assessments

MAP-A is administered to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Using DESE-established eligibility criteria, the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team makes the determination of qualification for MAP-A.

MAP-A educators must administer testlets in three content areas:

• English language arts in grades 3-8 and 11
• Mathematics in grades 3-8 and 11
• Science in grades 5, 8, and 11

Timing will vary depending on the grade and level of the student, but the majority of testlets take between 5 and 20 minutes.

NOTE: Districts may optionally administer the MAP-A ELA assessments to students in grade 9, 10, and 12; Math in grades 9 and 10; and the Science assessment in grades 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12 for local assessment use. Please refer to Special Education Form E.

Resources

The following resources are available to help prepare test administrators and students for the assessment:

Released Testlets
https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/sites/default/files/documents/Manuals_Blueprints/Guide_to_Practice_Activities_and_Released_Testlets_2023-2024.pdf
Released testlets provide examples of what students might face during DLM assessments and feature the same rigor, design, and quality of operational DLM testlets.

Training Videos
https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/district-staff-video-resources-ie
Training videos for District Staff: Adding/editing students/users/rosters, exiting students, using Educator Portal, transferring students, uploading templates

https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/educator-resource-videos-ie
Training videos for Teachers: First contact survey, writing testlets, Educator Portal, KITE student portal, verifying rosters, verifying student data

Training
https://training.dynamiclearningmaps.org/login/index.php
Prior to test administration, teachers must pass the required training with at least 80% accuracy. Returning test administrators who passed required training last year may review one module and pass four quizzes. New test administrators must pass four modules and a test.

Additional Resources

It is also recommended that teachers familiarize themselves with the following manuals and guides:

• Accessibility Manual
• Educator Portal User Guide
• Guide to DLM Required Test Administrator Training
• Guide to Practice Activities and Released Testlets IM
• Test Administration Manual
• Training PowerPoint/Training Script

Overview – ACCESS for ELLs Assessments

WIDA ACCESS is a suite of English language proficiency (ELP) assessments that Missouri has selected to meet the requirement of the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) to annually assess students who are eligible for EL (English Learner) services, including EL students with disabilities. ACCESS allows educators, students, and families to monitor student progress in acquiring academic English in the domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing and is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards.

Students who have exited an ELD program and are now coded in Core Data as MY1, MY2, AY3 or AY4, do not take the ACCESS assessment.

ACCESS ASSESSMENTS

WIDA ACCESS – The online assessment for students in grades 1-12. A paper version is available for those with an IEP that requires it, and for students with very limited exposure to technology. Large print and braille versions are also available for those with that accommodation in their IEP.

Kindergarten ACCESS – A one-on-one paper-based assessment that comes in a kit with manipulatives.

Alternate ACCESS – An assessment for students in grades K-12 who are classified as ELs, and have significant cognitive disabilities – those who do or would qualify for MAP-A – that prevent their meaningful participation in the WIDA ACCESS assessment. For students in grades K-2, the IEP team will need to determine if the student would qualify for MAP-A, if the assessment were available in those grades.

Resources

ACCESS Test Practice and Sample Items
https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/access/preparing-students/practice

Helping familiarize students with the kind of content they will encounter on the test and give them a chance to practice the different question types has proven to be a vital resource.

Available resources include Sample Items, which give students a chance to practice answering the type of questions they will see on the test, and an opportunity to use the features and tools built in to the test platform.

Each grade-level cluster offers a Test Demo that shows students how to navigate different features of the test.

Finally, there is a Test Practice. Students may go through practice items as many times as they like prior to testing day. Keep in mind that the practice items may not be representative of the difficulty of scored test items – the test practice is simply a chance for students to use the test platform. Completing the practice items can be especially helpful for students who are new to the Speaking test, but keep in mind that the first thing students do when they take the real test is complete these same practice items.

Checklist
http://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/asmt-el-access-checklist

A document outlining all responsibilities for test coordinators and test administrators before, during and after testing.

Training
https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/wida-el-assessments-required-trainings

Overview – NAEP Assessments

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as "the Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subjects. Its two major goals are to measure student achievement and to report change in performance over time.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) administers the same NAEP assessment in every state. This provides a common measure of achievement that allows for comparisons of achievement to the nation and among states and participating districts. NAEP does not report results for individual students.

NAEP provides test results for the nation as a whole in a variety of subjects and for the states individually in mathematics, reading, science, and writing. Performance reporting disaggregates groups of students by gender, by different racial and ethnic groups, and by participation in special programs among others.

NAEP assessments, along with various international studies, are administered each year to a representative sample of students rather than the entire student population. This school year will see the following NAEP and International assessments administered to chosen students:

• 4^th Grade – Math and Reading
• 8^th Grade – Math, Reading and Science
• 12^th Grade – Math and Reading
• Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS)

Resources

NAEP Data
https://www.nationsreportcard.gov

The Nation’s Report Card examines NAEP Assessment data and key findings at the state and national level. Specific Missouri data snapshots can be found on the DESE NAEP page.

Sample Questions
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt/

Includes access to over 3,000 released questions that can supplement classroom instruction, provide insight into the content of the assessment and show what students in your LEA can do.

NAEP Frameworks
https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/assessment/naep
Frameworks and Items Specifications are available in the following areas: Arts, Civics, Geography, Math, Reading, Science, Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL), US History, World Language and Writing.

NAEP SAMPLING

A sample is selected to be representative of schools across the state and nation on the basis of characteristics such as location, enrollment, school achievement and income of the area. Within each school, students are randomly selected to participate.

Selected schools are notified via email in the prior academic year.

If you have questions about NAEP, school or student selection or available resources, please contact the Missouri NAEP Coordinator using the information below.

Missouri NAEP Coordinator
Jeremy Ellis
573-526-8109
jeremy.ellis@dese.mo.gov

Timing Guidelines

The following tables list estimates of the time it will take students to complete each component of an assessment. Some students may take much longer. LEAs should plan for flexibility in their schedules to accommodate students that may take more time than noted.

There is no time limit for any assessment. These times do not include time needed to start computers, log in students, go through directions, etc. They also do not include time needed for students to complete any tutorials or practice items.

Grade-Level

End-of-Course 

MAP-A

Timing will vary depending on the grade and level of the student, but the majority of testlets take between 5 and 20 minutes.

WIDA ACCESS

BLUEPRINTS

A test blueprint is a map of specifications for an assessment program to identify the structure of the assessment, which ensures that the MLS are covered over a specified period of time. The blueprint links the assessment to the content areas, acting as a tool to align objectives to the appropriate weightage and questions across the strands.

Blueprints provide essential planning materials for the assessment development process. The test blueprints are used to guide and target specific item development and writing, as well as the form assembly. The blueprint, along with item specifications, performance level descriptors, and the practice and processes documents, provide strong content validity and reliability for the assessment system.

MAP Grade-Level

https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/map-grade-level-assessment-blueprints

Grade-Level Assessments may contain selected response (SR) items, evidence-based selected response (EBSR), constructed response (CR) items, writing tasks (WT), performance events (PE) and/or technology enhanced (TE) items (e.g. drag and drop, drop-down menu, matching, select answers, hot spot, etc.).

End-of-Course

https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/eoc-blueprints

EOC Assessments may contain selected response (SR) items, constructed response (CR) items, writing tasks (WT) and/or technology enhanced (TE) items (e.g. drag and drop, drop-down menu, matching, select answers, hot spot, etc.).

MAP-A

MAP-A blueprints consist of a pool of available Essential Elements and the requirements for coverage within each conceptual area.

STANDARDS

MAP Grade-Level and End-of-Course

The Missouri Learning Standards define the knowledge and skills students need in each grade and content area for success in college, other post-secondary training, and careers. The Missouri Learning Standards give school administrators, teachers, parents, and students a roadmap for learning expectations in each grade and course.

https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/curriculum/missouri-learning-standards

MAP-A

The MAP-A Essential Elements are specific statements of knowledge and skills that are aligned to the Missouri Learning Standards. The purpose of the Dynamic Learning Maps Essential Elements is to build a bridge from the content in the MLS to academic expectations for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

• ELA: https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/sites/default/files/documents/ELA_EEs/DLM_Essential_Elements_ELA_(2013)_v4.pdf
• Math: https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/sites/default/files/documents/Math_EEs/DLM_Essential_Elements_Math_(2013)_v4.pdf
• Science: https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/sites/default/files/documents/Science/Science_EEs_Combined.pdf

WIDA ACCESS

WIDA English Development (ELD) Standards represent the social, instructional, and academic language students use to engage with peers, educators, and the curriculum in schools. The Standards highlight the language needed to meet academic expectations as described by state, college and career readiness standards, and other content standards.

The first standard, Social and Instructional Language, reflects the ways in which students interact socially to build community and establish working relationships with peers and teachers in ways that support learning.

The remaining four standards present ways multilingual learners can communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Each assessment has a unique set of accommodations and tools/supports available to ensure that students are best able to show what they know on the assessments.

MAP Grade-Level and EOC

MAP Grade-Level: https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/map-grade-level-assessment-tools-and-accommodations
EOC: https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/eoc-universal-tools-and-accommodations

Universal Tools – Available to all students taking a Grade Level or End-of-Course assessment unless otherwise noted. Some tools are for use only by ELs. Some tools need be marked in the system prior to testing. Please read the description to determine if the tool must be marked.

Accommodations – Available only for students with an IEP/504 plan. Some accommodations are for use only by ELs with an IEP/504. All accommodations must be marked in the system prior to testing.

These documents will be revised for the spring when we add Closed Caption and video ASL.

MAP-A

https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/sites/default/files/documents/Manuals_Blueprints/Accessibility_Manual.pdf

The DLM Accessibility Manual provides guidance to district staff, educators and IEP teams in the selection and use of accessibility supports available in the DLM system.

https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/dlm-accessibility-supports
View details for the accessibility supports chosen in the Personal Needs Profile to assist students taking testlets.

WIDA ACCESS

WIDA: https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/accessibility-accommodations
Missouri Supplement: https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/wida-access-missouri-supplement-accessibility-and-accommodations-manual

Test Administration Site/Student Portal

Each assessment has a test administration website used for entering students in the system, assigning students to test sessions, assigning accommodations, generating and printing test tickets, and tracking student progress.

Each assessment also has a secure student platform that must be downloaded onto the system being used for testing. These platforms are the interface for the student to take the assessment.

Guides for setup of the secure testing platforms can be found on the administration websites.

MAP Grade-Level/End-of-Course

Secure Testing Platform: INSIGHT
Administration Website: The Portal – https://www.drcedirect.com/
System Requirements: https://cdn-download-prod.drcedirect.com/all/download/resources/requirements/tabe/drc-insight-system-requirements.htm

MAP-A

Secure Testing Platform: KITE Client
Administration Website: KITE Educator Portal – https://educator.kiteaai.org/AART/logIn.htm
System Requirements: https://dynamiclearningmaps.org/kite

WIDA ACCESS

Secure Testing Platform: INSGHT
Administration Website: WIDA AMS – https://www.wida-ams.us
System Requirements: https://cdn-download-prod.drcedirect.com/all/download/resources/requirements/tabe/drc-insight-system-requirements.htm

Districts will receive Individual Student Reports, which provide information of the performance of the student on the assessment. Districts are required to provide a copy of the ISR to the parent/guardian.

Within 15 days of receipt, the district is required to either provide a copy of the ISR to the parent/guardian OR notify parents/guardians of distribution plans of ISRs. Notification can occur through whatever means of communication the district normally uses with parents/guardians – posting on the district/school website, sending a message through the parent portal, text alert, email, mailing a letter, etc.

Districts may choose to hold ISRs beyond the 15-day deadline. Reasons may include plans on distributing them during a welcome back to school event or parent/teacher conference. If the district plans to hold the ISRs beyond 15 days, they must provide an alternative way for parents/guardians to obtain the report, such as coming to the office. This alternative plan must be included in the district notification.