Approval of contract with Northwest Education Association (NWEA) to increase Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing and professional development

Oct 3, 2026

School Board Action Report dated May 25, 2020 proposes authorizing the Superintendent to execute a $425,000.00 contract with Northwest Education Association (NWEA) for 2020-21. The plan increases Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) licenses and professional development to establish common assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics for grades 1-8. Expanded fall MAP administration supports early identification, progress monitoring, tiered supports, and guidance during fall conferences, especially given canceled summative testing after COVID-19.

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TITLE

Approval of contract with Northwest Education Association (NWEA) to increase Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing and professional development

PURPOSE

Increase MAP licenses and professional development for common assessments in grades 1-8

SCHOOL BOARD ACTION REPORT DATE: May 25, 2020 FROM: Denise Juneau, Superintendent LEAD STAFF: Diane DeBacker, Chief Academic Officer, [dmdebacker@seattleschools.org](dmdebacker@seattleschools.org),(206) 252-0180 Audrey Roach, Assessment Development Program Manager, [amroach@seattleschools.org](amroach@seattleschools.org),(206) 252-0974 For Introduction: June 24, 2020 For Action: July 8, 2020 1. TITLE Approval of contract with Northwest Education Association (NWEA) to increase Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing and professional development 2. PURPOSE This Board Action Report proposes an increase in MAP licenses and professional development to ensure there are common assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in grade levels 1-8, which will result in a cost of $425,000 for the 2020-21 school year. 3. RECOMMENDED MOTION I move that the School Board authorize the Superintendent to execute a contract with Northwest Education Association (NWEA) in the amount of $425,000 .00 for 2020-21, in the form of the draft agreement and attached to the School Board Action Report, with any minor additions, deletions, and modifications deemed necessary by the Superintendent, and to take any necessary actions to implement the contract. 4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION a. Background In recent years, MAP has been required district-wide for students in grades K-2. With focused professional development, some schools had begun to use MAP data in informing tiered supports for their students. There has been no district-wide use of MAP in grades 3-8. The 2019-24 Strategic Plan, Seattle Excellence, established a literacy goal that students furthest from educational justice (SSFFEJ) read on grade level by 3rd grade. The key performance indicator of this goal would be proficiency on the 3rd grade ELA Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) . Since there is no consistent district-wide use of MAP in the fall, and as MAP is predictive of proficiency on the spring Smarter Balanced Assessment, the SEA/SPS Assessment Committee discussed and agreed upon expanding the districtwide MAP requirement to include 3rd grade. Administering the MAP to all 3rd graders in the fall would provide data essential in early identification of those students in need of tiered supports and progress monitoring in order to read on grade level by the 3rd grade. Fall MAP data would also provide additional data points for teachers to provide to parents during fall conferences. Once schools were closed and summative tests were cancelled due to COVID-19, it became apparent to the SEA/SPS Assessment Committee in the April committee meeting that a larger expansion of MAP assessments in the fall would need to be considered. The absence of summative (MAP and/or SBA) annual assessment data resulted in a lack of individual student and subgroup data. The lack of individual student and subgroup summative data presents a unique dilemma for school leaders, building leadership teams (BLTs) and Multi-Tiered Student Support teams in developing a plan for tiered student supports and resources for the 2020-2021 school year. Historically, due to the availability of spring assessment data, Seattle Public Schools has not administered a district-wide fall assessment to students in grades 1-8. We do not anticipate the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) to be available for fall administration except for high school students to meet a graduation pathway. A fall administration of the MAP test to students in grades 1-8 is a viable solution to the current dilemma. The MAP test will provide valid and reliable data, is relatively short, is predictive of SBA proficiency*, has embedded accommodations and modifications if needed, and data is available within 24 hours. Administering the MAP test to all students in grades 1-8 in the fall will establish a baseline data point that will measure student learning loss (if applicable) and provide guidance in developing instru

FAQs

What action is the School Board being asked to approve?

Authorize the Superintendent to execute a contract with NWEA for $425,000.00 for 2020-21, in the form of the draft agreement attached to the report, with minor adjustments as needed.

What is the purpose of increasing MAP testing and professional development?

To ensure common assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics across grades 1-8 through increased MAP licenses and related professional development.

Why is fall MAP testing expansion being considered for grades 3-8?

Summative MAP and/or Smarter Balanced assessments were canceled due to COVID-19, leaving limited student and subgroup data and creating a need for a viable, predictive fall baseline for tiered supports and progress monitoring.

Oct 3, 2026

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