In Leander ISD, we use a universal screener, such as MAP Growth and Istation’s Indicators of Progress (ISIP), to determine what the student knows and is ready to learn next. The assessment information will support teachers in knowing the instructional areas in which students have grown and are ready to learn.
NWEA MAP Growth Testing Information
For an overview, please watch this What is MAP Growth video. The “A Family Guide to Map Growth” handout contains basic information about Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and MAP Growth as a screening tool.
MAP Growth Frequently Asked Questions
Who will take the MAP Growth screener?
All students in grades K–5 will take MAP Growth in Mathematics. All students in grades 6-8 will take MAP Growth in Mathematics and Reading. For high school, students will take MAP Growth Mathematics and Reading in grades 9-11. In grades 6-9, select campuses are piloting MAP Growth Science.
When will my child take the Math MAP Growth screener?
Students will take the assessment three times a year; Fall, Winter and Spring during a district determined window. Students will take the screener during class.
What is a RIT Score?
A RIT score is an estimation of a student’s instructional level and also measures student growth or progress. You may have a chart in your home on which you mark your child’s height at certain times, such as on their birthday. This is a growth chart to show how much they have grown from one year to the next. MAP assessments do the same sort of thing, except they measure your student’s growth.
The RIT scale ranges from 100–350. RIT scores make it possible to follow a student’s educational growth from year to year. As an example of how math RIT scores change as students move from grade to grade, a student may score in the 170s in third grade and advance to the 220s by high school.
What is a passing RIT score on the MAP Growth screener?
The MAP Growth assessment is not a test for mastery. It is designed to inform the instructional areas in which students are ready to learn. There is not a passing score as it is an assessment FOR learning rather than OF learning. The RIT score is based upon data from students nationwide and is used as a scale to compare scores to normed scores across the country.
What is a percentile rank?
A percentile rank indicates how well a student performed in comparison to the students in the specific norm group; for example, in the same grade and subject. A student’s percentile rank indicates that the student scored as well as, or better than, the percent of students in the norm group. For example, a student scoring at the 35th percentile scored as well as, or better than, 35 percent of students in the norm group. It also means that 65 percent of the students in the norm group exceeded this score.
The percentile rank is not a percentage of items the student answered correctly.
How is the MAP Growth screener different from the STAAR test?
Unlike standardized tests, MAP Growth is administered three times during the school year, and it adjusts to each student’s performance, rather than asking all students the same questions. When we talk about high-stakes tests, we are usually talking about a test designed to measure what students already know, based on what is expected at their grade level. High stakes tests are also often used as a way to measure grade-level proficiency. MAP Growth is designed to measure student achievement in the moment and growth over time, regardless of grade level, so it is quite different.
When will I receive a score report for my child?
Since the MAP Growth screener is designed to measure growth over time, family reports will be shared after our second testing session in the spring semester. Below is a sample report showing the way data will be represented on the report. Each year, this data will follow the student with cumulative data as you can see in the example below:
MAP Growth Report Sample – Spanish
How will my child’s teacher use his/her RIT Score?
Teachers can use the score to inform instruction, personalize learning, and monitor the growth of individual students. Principals and administrators can use the scores to see the performance and progress of a grade level, a school, or the entire district. Remember, your child’s MAP Growth RIT score is not a grade. Instead, it is a single data point that helps their teacher know what they are ready to learn next. It is there to help inform the teacher’s instructional decisions.
Amira Assessment & Reading Practice Information
Amira is an intelligent reading assistant that listens to children read aloud and provides immediate, personalized support. Amira combines advanced speech recognition with evidence-based reading science to assess student reading skills, deliver engaging practice, and provide teachers with powerful data to guide instruction.
Students are assessed in approximately 10–15 minutes with an adaptive reading assessment that measures foundational skills, oral reading fluency, and comprehension. Based on results, Amira provides individualized reading practice and intervention support to help every child grow as a reader.
The purpose of the Amira assessment is to measure readiness for grade-level instruction, identify students who may be at risk, determine intervention needs and intensity, and monitor progress throughout the year.
Amira Frequently Asked Questions
Who takes the Amira Assessment?
All students in K–5 participate in the Amira assessment.
When will my child take the Amira Assessment?
Students complete the Amira assessment during district-scheduled testing windows (typically Fall, Winter, and Spring) as well as on-demand when teachers need updated data. In addition, Amira can be used weekly for practice sessions where students read aloud to the program.
What is Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) in Amira?
Amira’s adaptive assessment adjusts in real time to match each child’s reading ability. As students read aloud, Amira analyzes their responses—mispronunciations, skipped words, hesitations, and comprehension answers. Based on performance, Amira dynamically selects the right passages and questions to pinpoint each student’s reading level and growth areas.
What does Amira measure?
Amira captures key reading skills, including:
- Letter-sound knowledge
- Word recognition and decoding
- Oral reading fluency (rate, accuracy, prosody)
- Vocabulary and comprehension
Understanding Scores and Reports
What kind of results will I see?
Parents and teachers receive easy-to-read reports showing:
- A child’s current reading level compared to grade expectations
- Growth over time (Fall to Winter to Spring)
- Specific strengths and areas for improvement
- Risk indicators for reading difficulties, including dyslexia screening in some grades
What is a percentile rank?
Amira provides nationally normed scores that show how a student compares to peers in the same grade. For example, a student at the 50th percentile is performing as well as or better than half of students nationwide.
When will I receive a score report for my child?
Student Summary Reports will be shared after the middle-of-year administration.
How Teachers and Schools Use Amira Data
Teachers use Amira results to personalize reading instruction, group students, and monitor growth. Principals and district leaders use the data to track progress across classrooms, schools, and the district as a whole.
Amira scores are not grades. Instead, they are data points to help educators understand what students are ready to learn next and to provide the right support.
Parent Resources
Parents are encouraged to reach out to their child’s teacher for guidance on how to support their child’s reading journey.
