Supporting each student’s individual learning growth is the primary focus of district assessments. These assessments collect not only performance data, but also growth data.

Measuring student growth is key when we select assessments to use for the evaluation of programs, classroom instruction, and effective interventions and enrichment opportunities for students.

Assessing students allows us to:

• Measure student performance and growth
• Inform teacher instruction
• Determine appropriate course placement and instructional needs for individual students
• Evaluate district programs
• Inform decisions about how we allocate district resources
• Evaluate the college and career readiness of students
• Provide accountability for district stakeholders

Measuring student growth in reading, math, and social-emotional and behavior competency supports our district's Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, which provides a framework for student interventions.

The information below provides a brief overview of the district assessment tools we use at each grade level. Our District Assessment Plan includes a comprehensive description of these assessments, when they are administered and how the results are used.

Reading

• Grades K-1: Fastbridge earlyReading and Rapid Automatic Naming
• Grades 2-3: Fastbridge AutoReading, aReading and CBM Reading
• Grades 4-9: NWEA MAP Growth Reading

Mathematics

• Grades K-3: iReady Math
• Grades 4-8: NWEA MAP Growth Math

Social-Emotional, Behavior and Suicide Prevention

• Third Grade: Social, Academic, Emotional and Behavioral Rating Scale (SAEBR)
• Sixth Grade: Suicide Prevention (CHADS/BHR presentations and check-ins)
• High School Health: Suicide Prevention (CHADS/BHR presentations and check-ins)

In addition to district assessments, teachers develop assessments they can use in class throughout the year. These assessments provide immediate feedback that allows teachers to support students in the moment as they work toward mastering established learning targets.

Classroom assessments are aligned to Missouri Learning Standards through the course and grade-level curriculum, and used to determine instructional and individual student needs.

Lindbergh students are required to take Missouri’s state assessments, the most common of which is called the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test.

It is important to note that 2020-21 MAP score results cannot be viewed in the same way as previous years, due to circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted student learning. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has advised school districts and individuals not to use the 2020-21 results “to make certain high-stakes decisions, to interpret test scores in the same way as in previous years, or without considering the learning environment and other contextual factors.”

Aside from COVID-19, the MAP test’s weakness is that it only provides educators and families with a limited view of a student's achievement and progress, and does not measure growth over time or compare student progress on a national scale. The MAP test provides a snapshot of student achievement that is specific to the date and time of when the test was taken. However, it does not measure the ways students take their learning to the next level and transfer it to authentic learning experiences.

Grade Level and End-of-Course Assessments

Grade Level and End-of-Course (EOC) assessments are used in Missouri to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the Missouri Learning Standards. They provide information about 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 Missouri Learning Standards, and to measure the overall quality of education throughout Missouri.

Required assessments include English Language Arts and Mathematics for grades 3-8; Science for grades 5 and 8; and EOC exams in English II, Algebra I, Biology and Government for grades 9-12.

ACCESS for ELLs

ACCESS for ELLs is the English language proficiency assessment that Missouri has selected to meet the requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act. This assessment is given annually to determine Missouri students who are eligible for English Learner services, including students with disabilities. It allows educators, students and families to monitor student progress in acquiring academic English, including speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards.

Missouri Assessment Program-Alternative Assessment

The Missouri Assessment Program-Alternate (MAP-A) assessment is administered to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who meet grade level and eligibility criteria that are determined by the student’s Individualized Education Plan team, using eligibility criteria that is established by DESE.

MAP-A achievement standards are aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards. Students who take the MAP-A assessment do not participate in Grade Level, End-of-Course or ACT assessments.

The MAP-A is administered by educators in three content areas:

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

Please visit the DESE website to learn more about state assessments.