District moves to Atlas assessment system and will discontinue MAP testing

District staff told the board March 18 that, after teacher feedback teams and a review of assessment load, the district will stop administering the MAP assessment and rely on the state ATLAS assessment system for diagnostic, progress and summative measures.

Presenters said the ATLAS system includes beginning‑, middle‑ and end‑of‑year assessments and testlets tailored to student needs. District staff explained that MAP required additional testing days (fall, midyear and sometimes spring) and that removing MAP could save classroom instructional time; for some grade spans, MAP administration consumed 45 minutes to an hour per session and sometimes required multiple days.

District staff told the board parents already have a unique ID to access the state portal and will be able to view real‑time testing information and individual reading and math intervention plans uploaded into the state system. Staff said not all students will see every testlet; teachers can place assessments they were already giving into the state system so students become familiar with the test platform.

A board member asked how the district will communicate scores to parents; staff replied that the district sends parent notifications at assessment time and that the state portal provides real‑time reporting. Staff also noted committees had voted not to give the spring MAP this year.

No formal board action was required for the assessment update; staff said they will continue to inform families and teachers as the system is used in classrooms.