NWEA Launches Through-Year Assessment for ELA and Math
Assessment provider NWEA is introducing a new solution to give educators more data on students' English Language arts (ELA) and mathematics proficiency throughout the school year. The adaptive, through-year assessment aims to eliminate the need for an annual summative test.
The assessment uses "an innovative test engine that enables NWEA to configure the fall, winter and spring assessments to reflect a state's summative blueprint." NWEA will pilot the test solution starting in the school districts across Nebraska with a goal to implement the assessments in ELA and math for grades three to eight in the 2021-2022 school year.
A consortium of districts in Georgia called the Georgia MAP Assessment Partnership (GMAP) are also piloting the ELA and math assessments in 2020-2021 and they plan to test NWEA's new similar science assessment for grades five to eight in 2021-2022 through the federal Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority program.
NWEA has aligned the assessments to measure "student against state grade-level standards and achievement levels in accordance with federal peer review requirements, and also adapts above or below grade level to reveal each student' learning level and needs."
"We're implementing this new solution from NWEA because we want to reduce overall testing for students in our districts while providing teachers with even better information during the school year to improve student learning," said Michael Huneke, GMAP collaborating partner and director of assessment at Marietta City Schools. "As part of Georgia's federal innovative assessment pilot, we are proud to contribute to the state's effort to eventually bring these benefits to all Georgia districts."
More information about the through-year assessment solution is available on NWEA's website.
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Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.
Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.
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