Agenda Item
b. Renewal of Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment Systems for 2025-2026 (Not to exceed $2,100,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief, Accountability & Research, Division of Accountability & Research
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the renewal of the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment for the 2025-2026 school year in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000.
The requested purchase is an assessment expenditure that does not require bid per the District’s Purchasing Board Policy (DJE).
Why: The DeKalb County School District currently utilizes Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) as a formative, interim assessment in grades K-10 in Reading, Language Usage, Mathematics, and Science. MAP also serves as the District’s universal screener to identify gifted and magnet students, as well as provides supplemental student achievement data to guide Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at the local school level.
Additionally, the District requires a tool that:
Is Diagnostic (measures student growth and identify students in need of additional support)
Provides students with an online learning path/continuum-based students’ identified need
Allows the District to compare student performance against other students to determine growth and mastery percentile gaps (this is particularly important for our at-risk subgroups)
Allows the District to determine students level of mastery based on state standards and learning criteria (i.e., success criteria and learning targets) using RIT scores
Can be used as a predictor towards the GA Milestones, SAT and ACT
Provides easy to understand data district, school and individual student reports (at the demographic level)
Provides Family Reports
In preparation for the 2025-2026 school year, the requested renewal is to permit the DeKalb County School District to enter into a continued agreement with NWEA to offer district-wide licenses for MAP assessments and to provide professional learning services to ensure all staff build efficiency in the instructional application of assessment data.
Details: This proposed budget item is requesting funds not to exceed $2,100,000 to cover the costs associated with the District renewal of the NWEA MAP assessment system and professional learning services.
NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a suite of assessments that deliver data to make a difference in student progress. MAP Growth measures areas related to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in RIT (Rausch Unit) scores. As a result, educators can easily measure growth in learning through the school year, and from year-to-year in Reading, Math, Language Usage, and Science, which also affords educators the capability to differentiate instruction based on the tool’s functionalities. The tool is built on one of the most robust normative scales in the United States.
MAP assessments are computer-adaptive tests that increase in rigor as students answer items, correctly. When a student incorrectly answers a question, the test becomes less difficult to match the next test item with the student’s academic aptitude. Therefore, a student takes an assessment created explicitly for his or her learning level. In addition, MAP Skills provides each student with his/her own specific learning path that identifies skill gaps and provides activities to help students master specific foundational skills.
Financial impact: The financial impact is an amount, not to exceed, $2,100,000 for FY26. The purchase amount will be paid using general funds budgeted to the Division of Accountability and Research’s Department of Assessment Administration charge code:100.1000.530010.00011.7540.9990.8010.030.0000
Division of Curriculum and Instruction and charge code: 100.2210.530000.00011.7480.9990.8010.035.0000
Federal Programs charge code: 414.2213.530000.37821.7590.1784.8010.030.2026
Contact: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief, Accountability & Research, Division of Accountability & Research, 678-676-0300
Dr. Felicia G. Rhone, Director, Assessment Administration, Accountability & Research, 678-676-0300
Effective: August 2025
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
nw Q believe in
what's possible
DeKalb School District
Professional Learning Plan
NWEA is honored to partner with DeKalb School District to provide comprehensive professional learning designed to
support a successful adoption and build capacity within the district. Through strategic planning, implementation
support, and coaching, NWEA will provide professional learning grounded in teacher agency, collaboration, and
teacher success.
NWEA Professional Learning Pedagogy
Professional learning at NWEA is designed to make meaningful, measurable instructional changes. We reference
professional standards such as Learning Forward Standards, InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, and ESSA
definitions of professional development. Our approach is centered on evidence-based assessment and learning
solutions that respond to the needs of all learners. We work shoulder to shoulder with educators across school systems
and states to foster student growth. By integrating real-time data with best practices, NWEA Professional Learning
helps educators tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students, ultimately improving student outcomes
across all grade levels.
NWEA Professional Learning Benefits
Customized Learning Paths: Our professional learning programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of your
school or district, ensuring that every session is relevant and impactful.
Research-Backed Content: We reference professional standards such as Learning Forward Standards, InTASC
Model Core Teaching Standards, and ESSA definitions of professional development.
Ongoing Support: Beyond the workshops, NWEA offers coaching services to help educators apply what
they've learned in their classrooms, ensuring sustained instructional change.
Comprehensive Coverage: NWEA Professional Learning addresses all key areas of instruction, from literacy and
math to responsive teaching, making it a one-stop solution for professional development needs.
Commitment to Assessment Literacy: NWEA Professional Learning is dedicated to developing educatars'
assessment literacy to transform learning outcomes and personalize learning, ensuring that each student
receives the targeted instruction they need.
nweo Professional Learning
Sample Implementation Plan/Timeline for DeKalb School District
Support for New Leaders
The goal of these sessions is to support your new leadership who do not have experience with
MAP Growth prior to our district learning days.
Support for Leadership
The goal of these sessions is to build upon current understanding of MAP Growth and focus on
making instructional changes.
Support for Schools
The goal of these sessions is to build upon current understanding of MAP Growth and focus on
making instructional changes. Due to shorter time durations, we will configure a deck which
includes the most imoortant learnina to share at the buildina level.
Professional Learning Audience Setting Timeline Total Number
Days of
Sessions
t:1.8e G[Qwtb Basics tQ[ Leaders Before Testing
New
(MG Basics for Leaders 3 hour during Principals/
Administrators
onsite) Assistant
who do not have
Principal
experience
• Understand what makes
leading MAP
Academy
MAP Growth unique and
Growth test
meaningful and the key Lunch and learn
administration
features that will support for select
or have not
your work On- administrators
previous TBD 2 4
• Make decisions about how Site only or as a
experience with
MAP Growth test rotation of the
MAP Growth
administration days learning.
• 30 participants/session Support
Before
Services
September 2,
2025 if possible
Academic
Services
Using t:1Ae G[Qwtb to SuRJlQ.[t
Sc bool l m PIQY:.e.IMfl.tElam
(MAP Action Planning with MAP Data
3 hour onsite)
• Develop Practical Action
Plans: Work with experts to School Leaders - 3-hr
interpret MAP data and craft Principal +2
On- September 2,
detailed next steps that am and 1 4
Site 2025
directly impact instruction Area 1 and 2 pm
and school improvement Elementary sessions
goals
• Create Data-Driven
Strategies: Collaboratively
analyze your MAP Growth
data and generate tailored
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action steps that fit your
unique needs
• Integrate Data Into
Instruction: Learn how to
support teachers in using
data to enhance classroom
practices
• 30 participants/session
USing t1~E GrQwtb to SI.lRRQrt School Leaders-
3-hr
ScltO_QllmlJ [g~em!Wl Elaos Principal +2
MAP Action Planning with MAP Data On- September 3,
am and 1 4
(3 hour onsite) Area 3 Site 2025
pm
Elementary and
sessions
Area Middle
Using t:18E QrQwtb t.Q SURIlllJ1
School Leaders- 3-hr
SQbQQllmg(Q~ement El.anli
Principal +2
MAP Action Planning with MAP Data On- September 4,
am and 1 4
(3 hour onsite) Site 2025
Area High and pm
Area Horizon sessions
.U sing t:1AE G[Qwtu to SURpmt School Leaders-
3-hr
s..c.b.Q.Q.LlrnRCQvementElan.s Principal +2 and
MAP Action Planning with MAP Data District session On- September 5,
am and 1 4
(3 hour onsite) Site 2025
pm
Specialty and
sessions
District Session
l.rnng MAP Growth to Sup-llll.tl
Support 3-hr
ScbQcllmJ;2[Qllement Elans
Services
MAP Action Planning with MAP Data On-
am and TBD 1 2
(3 hour onsite) Site
Academic pm
Services sessions
Student Goal Setting
Teachers,
(MG Reports for Teachers : Analyzing September 8
Instructional On- During
Start of Year Data 3 hour onsite) September 19, 100 200
Coaches, and Site PLCs
• 30 participants/session Administrators
2025
t:1AE Growtb EssentiJ:!l R.e,PQJts for New Before Testing
L.e..ad.els Administrators during Principals/
On-
(MAP Growth Reports for Leaders: who do not have TBD Assistant 2 4
Site
Analyzing Start of Year Data 3 hour experience Principal
onsite) leading MAP Academy
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Growth test
• Learn how to navigate key administration Lunch and learn
reports in MAP Growth or have not for select
• Explore student-centered previous administrators
decisions that are intormed experience with only or as a
by MAP Growth data MAP Growth rotation of the
• Interpret and apply MAP days learning.
Growth achievement data Support
• 30 participants/session Services Before
September 2,
Academic 2025 if possible
Services
M~e Q[Qwth M~l!irn i ziog Stud eot
G[Qwtb io tbe ClaSlHQQrn
(MG Maximizing Student Growth in
the Classroom 3 hour onsite)
• Understand the connecting
between growth and
achievement
School Leaders- 3-hr
• Analyze key growth data in Principal +2
MAP Growth reports On- December 2,
am and 1 4
• Evaluate effective strategies Area 1 and 2
Site
pm
2025
to maximize growth
Elementary sessions
throughout the schooL year
• Develop an action plan to
impact student learning (we
can connect this to the taLL
action pLan)
• 30 participants/session
~mizing St udent School Leaders-
3-hr
G[C1wtb io tbe ClaSlUClQrn Principal +2
(MG Maximizing Student Growth in On- December 3,
am and 1 4
the Classroom 3 hour onsite) Area 3 Site 2025
pm
ELementary and
sessions
Area MiddLe
MAP Growth Maxim izi ng Student School Leaders- 3-hr
!:2[Qwtb in toe Qla:!s[oorn Principal +2
On- December4,
(MG Maximizing Student Growth in am and 1 4
Site 2025
the Classroom 3 hour onsite) Area High and pm
Area Horizon sessions
MAP Gromb Maxirnizing Studeot 3-hr
School Leaders-
!:2 rowto in toe Class[QQrn
Principal +2 and On- December 5,
(MG Maximizing Student Growth in amand 1 4
District session Site 2025
the Classroom 3 hour onsite) pm
sessions
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Specialty and
District Session
MAP Gro'litb ~ximizlng Student Support 3-hr
G[owth ill tbe Class[oorn Services
On-
(MG Maximizing Student Growth in am and TBD 1 2
Site
the Classroom 3 hour on site) Academic pm
Services sessions
MAP Growth Maxl~tj,Jctelll
h in th~Glassrool
(MG Reports for Teachers : Analyzing
December 8
Growth Data 3 hour onsite)
Teachers, December 18
• Que to sboae r time
Instructional On- During '"Shortened by 1
.d.1Hatio[]s lIlle will f; Q[)1igur~ 100 200
Coaches, and Site PLCs day so we don't
a de f; ~ w bic h includes the
Administrators meet day before
most irn portantiea mi ng to
winter break
llllaLe at the bui..ld.i.nUe'Le!~
• 30 participants/session
MAP Growth ESll-entipl RepQLt§ fOf Before Testing
New
I.e.aJiers Administrators
during Principals/
(MG Reports for Leaders: Analyzing Assistant
who do not have
Growth Data 3 hour onsite) Principal
experience
• 30 participants/session leading MAP
Academy
Growth test
Lunch and learn
administration
for select
or have not
On - administrators
previous TBD 2 4
Site only or as a
experience with
rotation of the
MAP Growth
days learning.
Support
Before
Services
September 2,
2025 if possible
Academic
Services
Focus on GrQW1b
(Focusing on Growth 3 hour on site) School Leaders- 3-hr
• Use MAP Growth data and Principal +2
On-
other assessment results to amand April14, 2026 1 4
Site
identify trends in the class, Area 1 and 2 pm
grade, school, and d istrict Elementary sessions
levels
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• Consider how growth
trends may inform school or
district goals or plans
• Apply achievement and
growth data to plans and
goals
• 30 participants/session
EcCJ.Is co Growth School Leaders-
3-hr
(Focusing on Growth 3 hour onsite) Principal +2
On-
am and April15, 2026 1 4
Area 3 Site
pm
Elementary and
sessions
Area Middle
Eocus 00 Growth School Leaders- 3-hr
(Focusing on Growth 3 hour on site) Principal +2
On-
am and April16, 2026 1 4
Site
Area High and pm
Area Horizon sessions
Focus 00 Growth School Leaders-
3-hr
(Focusing on Growth 3 hour onsite) Principal +2 and
District session On-
am and April 17, 2026 1 4
Site
pm
Specialty and
sessions
District Session
Focus on Growth Support 3-hr
(Focusing on Growth 3 hour onsite) Services
On-
am and TBD 1 2
Site
Academic pm
Services sessions
Foc.u.s on GrQVi1h
(MG Reports for Teachers: Analyzing
Growth Data 3 hour onsite)
• Due t.o shQJ:1e[ t im li:
Teachers,
~ions, we wil~lJ.ilt April20-May 1,
Instructional On- During
a..d.e..c.k which inclu_cLe.Hh~ 2026 100 200
Coaches, and Site PLCs
most important 1~_amJng12
Administrators
~.hare at the building le'llel.
• 30 participants/session
Program Manager-Quarter Time
(Quarter-time program management
will be listed as 6 items. This refers
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to 2 months of support during each
PLC window.)
nweo