April 11, 2023

The Lindbergh Schools Board of Education approved a resolution on April 11 authorizing the district to participate in a collective request to use an alternative, growth-based student assessment during the 2023-24 school year to measure student academic growth and district accountability.

As a member of the Success-Ready Students Network, Lindbergh will join up to 25 school districts statewide in a waiver request that the Missouri Board of Education is tentatively scheduled to consider in June. Together, these districts are seeking approval from the state to design a better way to measure student growth and ultimately replace the MAP test.

“Our goal is to design an assessment that provides a meaningful, transparent and accurate reflection of student learning, and equips teachers to accurately inform instruction in real time to support individual student success,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Lake. “We are excited to work alongside other school districts who are leading the way in supporting student success in college, careers and beyond.”

The board’s vote follows an informational presentation from Dr. Lake and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tara Sparks, and a period of community engagement where details of the district’s participation in the Success-Ready Students Network were shared, and feedback was gathered.

If the waiver is granted, districts in the network will finalize and pilot a new state assessment to replace the MAP test and ultimately implement a better accountability system that supports student learning and school improvement. The work would begin this fall and continue through 2027.

Some of the key components of the new measurement system would include: 

• Measuring student growth multiple times throughout the school year

• Immediate, timely feedback for the student, teacher and parents

• Students are aware of where they are and engaged in setting future goals

• Students learn actively using different pathways and varied pacing

• Students progress based on evidence of mastery, not seat time

• Students engage in real-world learning experiences that support high school, college, career and workplace readiness

What is the Success-Ready Students Network

The Success-Ready Students Network is a diverse group of 53 Missouri school districts, four universities and 14 state and regional education organizations, working in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Together, they are designing a better way for each student to engage in meaningful learning, demonstrate individual growth and prepare for future success

What is a System Design Zone
The system design zones are a smaller group of districts in the network that have been recognized as leaders in the state of Missouri. Design zones will lead the work and include Affton, Bloomfield, Branson, Center, Confluence Academy, Fayette, Green Ridge, Jamestown, Kearney, Ladue, Lebanon, Lee’s Summit, Lewis County, Liberty, Lindbergh, Lonedell, Mehlville, Neosho, Ozark, Parkway, Pattonville, Raymore Peculiar, Ritenour, Ste. Genevieve and Shell Knob.