A universally administered indicator of
readiness is a key starting marker in making placement decisions,
especially in identifying traditionally underrepresented
students.
PORTLAND, Ore., April 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NWEA, a K-12 assessment and
research organization, announced today new guidance for schools to
support them in more equitably identifying students who may be
ready for Algebra 1. Beyond this course being a requirement in most
states for high school graduation, Algebra 1 is a gateway toward
more advanced mathematics courses, and passing the course is often
used as a predictor of future college success and career
readiness.
Determining readiness for Algebra 1 can be complex. Common
placement decisions may rely on subjective methods, such as teacher
recommendations or students completing a grade level. Students may
be misidentified (meaning they are not ready), or they may not be
identified at all if the approach to placement unintentionally
excludes potentially ready students. This new guidance is designed
to help navigate these complexities by stressing the importance of
a universally administered indicator of readiness as a starting
place in the decision process.
"Students turning 13 or 14 years old is not an automatic marker
that they are ready to take Algebra 1. We know that in any given
classroom, the academic variances present can range multiple
grades," said Dr. Scott
Peters, the author of the guide and Director of Research
Consulting Partnerships at NWEA. "This guide offers an objective
start to help educators make those placement decisions beyond just
a student's grades or grade level completed. It's also a door
opener for traditionally underrepresented students often overlooked
for higher-level math courses because those placement decisions
don't include something like a universally administered indicator
of readiness at the start."
The new guide focuses on how districts using MAP Growth—a widely
used interim assessment developed by NWEA—can leverage its data to
help identify students who may potentially be ready for Algebra 1.
The research behind the guide looked at what score in the MAP
Growth 6+ Math test predicts students scoring proficient on a
state's end-of-course Algebra 1 exam or being successful in an
Algebra 1 course. The guide also provides schools placement
considerations and approaches based on their goal for Algebra 1,
whether that's to increase demographic representation, greater
success in the course or providing more students the opportunity to
take the course.
Read the guide at
https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/resource/when-are-students-ready-for-algebra-1
About NWEA
NWEA® (a division of HMH) is a
mission-driven organization that supports students and educators in
more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions,
policy and advocacy services, professional learning and school
improvement services that fight for equity, drive classroom impact
and push for systemic change in our educational communities.
Visit NWEA.org to learn more about how we're partnering with
educators to help all kids learn.
Contact: Simona Beattie,
Communications Director, simona.beattie@nwea.org or
971.361.9526
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SOURCE NWEA