Gina Ortiz, the district’s senior executive director of accountability and continuous improvement, covered the Measure of Academic Progress, or MAP, during the Feb. 20 board meeting.
The details
MAP measures a student's growth in reading and math from one grade to the next, Ortiz said, using a scale that ranges from zero to 250 and covers students from kindergarten through eighth grade. It is tracked through assessments, which is also used to set student goals for academic growth.
The assessments are compared to the student’s score from the previous grade.
Zooming in
Ortiz said students in every grade and across all demographics saw improvements. Additionally, 52% of students met their growth goals set by the assessments in reading and 51% of students met their growth goals in math. Both categories are above the national average of 50%, Ortiz said.
Just because students did not meet their goals, it does not mean that they did not see academic growth, Ortiz said.
What they’re saying
Lake Highlands Elementary Principal Emily Gruninger said the school has partnered with the Parent Teacher Association, which has helped ensure student success. She added that PTA and staff have regular conversations with parents about how they can help, which also contributes to student success.
Prairie Creek Elementary Principal Stephanie Goncalves said building a culture of trust and collaboration with staff has contributed to the campus’ success. The school also partners with the PTA, which helps provide tutors and meet with staff to help ensure each student’s needs are met.
What else?
Ortiz said the district is on track to continue to show growth over the coming school year, adding that MAP is only one data point the school uses to monitor academic growth.
