The gist
MAP Growth is a nationally recognized, research-backed assessment system designed to measure student achievement and growth in real time, according to district documents. The program adapts to a student’s learning level and provides educators with precise, actionable data that informs instruction throughout the year.
“I can’t think of a better way to baseline and measure student learning and growth,” board President Cameron Bryan said.
MAP Growth will cost $134,000 to implement and will be paid for through IDEA B, which is federal grant funding, from the 2024-25 school year funds.
Digging deeper
MAP Growth is a beginning, middle and end of year assessment, Gina Peddy, Carroll ISD’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, said. It was created by the Northwest Evaluation Association, a non-profit that provides school districts with academic assessments.
Tracie Gibson, a professional learning consultant at NWEA, said the assessment provides projected proficiency for college-readiness exams like the ACT and SAT beginning in 5th grade.
According to previous Community Impact reporting, state lawmakers are considering replacing State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness testing, or the STAAR test, with three shorter exams. Critics of the STAAR test have said the exam causes undue stress for students and does not help teachers improve instruction throughout the school year.
MAP Growth will not replace the STAAR test and statewide changes related to STAAR testing will likely not affect the 2025-26 school year, Peddy said.
Also of note
Carroll ISD’s board approved a request to reauthorize cameras in qualifying special education classrooms. According to district documents, the cameras are used as safety measures.
Texas law mandates that special education classrooms provide surveillance after an authorized written request from a parent, board of trustees, governing body, principal, assistant principal or a staff member who works with special education children.
The cameras can be used for accountability, according to the law.
