Missouri is implementing a performance-based assessment system for use by all public schools in the state, as required by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. The assessment system is designed to measure student progress toward meeting the Show-Me Standards, 73 rigorous academic standards that were adopted by the State Board of Education in January 1996. Here is a brief progress report on the development of the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP).

Knowledge + Performance = Academic Success
To achieve the Show-Me Standards, students must have a strong foundation of knowledge and skills in basic subject areas and be able to apply what they know to real-world problems and new situations. Therefore, MAP must measure what students know as well as what they can do.

Subject Areas
The MAP covers threesubject areas addressed in the Show-Me Standards — math, communication arts and science.

Grade Levels
State grade-level assessments are administered for students in the following grades:

• Mathematics: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8
• Communication Arts: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8
• Science: 5 & 8

The Test
Three types of the items will be used on the tests to evaluate student achievement: the familiar multiple-choice questions that require students to select the correct answer; short-answer, constructed-response items that require students to supply (rather than select) an appropriate response; and performance events that require students to work through more complicated problems or issues. State-level tests for the mathematics, communication arts, as well as some performance activities for health/physical education will be incorporated into local assessment programs.

(MAP 2012) Testing Information