The Assessment Section manages test development, on-going test maintenance, and oversees the test administration for four statewide, large-scale assessments. The MAP assessments test students’ progress toward mastery of the Missouri Show-Me Standards.

For more information, please see the Guide To The Missouri Assessment Program.

Assessment Development Recruitment

As a part of the assessment development cycle, DESE Assessment invites Missouri educators to participate in the process to help provide expertise. Missouri is always looking for educators to participate in these meetings. If you wish to be considered for participation for any future development meetings, please complete the online submission form. Once finished, you will receive an email to the personal email address provided to confirm your submission.

Assessment Virtual Office Hour
The Assessment Virtual Office Hour will return, starting Tuesday November 28, 2023 at 1:30 PM. To register for the Assessment Virtual Office Hour, use this link: https://morenet.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItde2srTkiH9fSODS9w6ekBW4Rj7…;

Assessment Updates

The following list includes updates to assessment documents, communications from DESE Assessment to District Test Coordinators (DTC) and the release of Administrative Memos concerning the Missouri Assessment Program.

Success Ready Student Assessment (SRSA)

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is seeking an Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority from the U.S. Department of Education as part of its effort to improve the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). This initiative aligns with Missouri’s commitment to supporting traditional and competency-based learning frameworks and aims to enhance the flexibility and instructional value of assessments. The proposed Success-Ready Student Assessment (SRSA) uses a through-course model involving a minimum of three assessment occasions per year in English language arts (ELA) and Mathematics.

Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) Timeline for the Missouri Assessment Program Success Ready Student Assessment (SRSA)

Dates:		Resources:
January 2024	Competitive Grants for Student Assessment (CGSA) Announced	CGSA 2024 Application Package US Department of Education
May 2024	DESE submits 2 applications Pathways to Instructionally Embedded Assessment Grade 8 Success Ready Student Assessment
August 2024	DESE wins CGSA for its Success Ready Student Assessment	2024 CGSA Award Project Abstracts
September 2024	Report on the IADA to the Missouri State Board of Education	Report on the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority
October 2024	Collaborative monthly meetings with the Success Ready Students Network (SRSN) begin
April 2025	DESE seeks stakeholder feedback through IADA Road Show events and surveys	IADA Road Show PowerPoint
May 2025	DESE submits IADA application Feedback Results Updated Slides	SRSA IADA application
June-July 2025	DESE seeks additional stakeholder engagement QR Code posted for additional feedback	Final IADA Condensed Version for Feedback  Missouri IADA Stakeholder Feedback Survey
August 2025	Expected IADA Award Notification

MAP Grade-Level Assessment Updates

MAP Grade-Level Assessment

2024-2025 Administration 12/19/2024- The training PowerPoint slides for 2024-2025 are now available. 11/18/2024- 2024-2025 Missouri Instructional Testlets Information 9/9/2024- 2024-2025 MAP Grade-Level & End-of-Course Practice Forms Information

End-Of-Course Updates

End-Of-Course

2024-2025 Administration  12/19/2024 - The training PowerPoint slides for Spring 2025 EOC testing are now available. 9/9/2024 - 2024-2025 MAP Grade-Level & End-of-Course Practice Forms Information

MAP-A Update Newsletters

MAP-A UPDATE NEWSLETTERS

2025-2026 MAP-A Updates
July	Volume 15, Issue 1
August	Volume 15, Issue 2
September	Volume 15, Issue 3
September	Volume 15, Issue 4
October	Volume 15, Issue 5

2024-2025 MAP-A Updates
July	Volume 14, Issue 1
September	Volume 14, Issue 2
September	Volume 14, Issue 3
October	Volume 14, Issue 4
December	Volume 14, Issue 5
January	Volume 14, Issue 6
February	Volume 14, Issue 7
March	Volume 14, Issue 8
April	Volume 14, Issue 9
May	Volume 14, Issue 10

Assessment Resources

Assessment Resources

Missouri Assessment Program	Guide To The Missouri Assessment Program District Self-Monitoring Quality Assurance Test Security Guidelines For The Missouri Assessment Program New District Test Coordinators (DTC) - How Do I Get An Account Assessment Item Types Assessment Translation Services MAP Information For Parents
	Test Coordinators Manual Grade-Level Tools and Accommodations Grade-Level Blueprints 2023-2024 Guide To Interpreting Results Grade-Level Examiner’s Manual
	EOC Test Coordinators Manual EOC Test Administration Manual EOC Tools - and Accommodations EOC Blueprints 2023-2024 Guide To Interpreting Results
	MAP-A Responsibilities For District Personnel MAP-A Compliance DLM Additional Training Videos
	Guide to ELP Assessments EL Screening Guide ACCESS Quick Reference Guide ACCESS To-Do Checklist
Additional Resources	Assessment Principles

Assessment Item Specifications

Item Specifications

In 2014 Missouri legislators passed House Bill 1490, mandating the development of the Missouri Learning Expectations. In April of 2016, these Missouri Learning Expectations were adopted by the State Board of Education. Groups of Missouri educators from across the state collaborated to create the documents necessary to support the implementation of these expectations.

One of the documents developed is the item specification document, which includes all Missouri grade level/course expectations arranged by domains/strands. It defines what could be measured on a variety of assessments. The document serves as the foundation of the assessment development process.

Although teachers may use this document to provide clarity to the expectations, these specifications are intended for summative, benchmark, and large‐scale assessment purposes.

Components of the item specifications include:

• Expectation Unwrapped breaks down a list of clearly delineated content and skills the students are expected to know and be able to do upon mastery of the Expectation.
• Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Ceiling indicates the highest level of cognitive complexity that would typically be assessed on a large scale assessment. The DOK ceiling is not intended to limit the complexity one might reach in classroom instruction.
• Item Format indicates the types of items used in large scale assessment. For each expectation, the item format specifies the type best suited for that particular expectation.
• Content Limits/Assessment Boundaries are parameters that item writers should consider when developing a large scale assessment. For example, some expectations should not be assessed on a large scale assessment but are better suited for local assessment.
• Sample stems are examples that address the specific elements of each expectation and address varying DOK levels. The sample stems provided in this document are in no way intended to limit the depth and breadth of possible item stems. The expectation should be assessed in a variety of ways.
• Text Types suggests a broad list of text types for both literary and informational expectations. This list is not intended to be all inclusive: other text types may be used in the classroom setting. The expectations were written in grade level bands; for this reason, the progression of the expectations relies upon increasing levels of quantitative and qualitative text complexities. (English Language Arts Only)
• Calculator Designation indicates whether a calculator will be available for test questions written to a particular expectations on the large-scale assessment. (Mathematics Only)
• Stimulus Materials defines types of stimulus materials that can be used in the item stems. (Science and Social Studies Only)
• Possible Evidence indicates observable methods in which a student can show understanding of the expectations. (Science Only)

ELA	Math
ELA Kindergarten ELA Grade 1 ELA Grade 2 ELA Grade 3 ELA Grade 4 ELA Grade 5 ELA Grade 6 ELA Grade 7 ELA Grade 8 ELA Grades 9-10 ELA Grades 11-12	Math Kindergarten Math Grade 1 Math Grade 2 Math Grade 3 Math Grade 4 Math Grade 5 Math Grade 6 Math Grade 7 Math Grade 8 Math Algebra I Math Algebra II Math Geometry

Science	Social Studies
Science Kindergarten Science Grade 1 Science Grade 2 Science Grade 3 Science Grade 4 Science Grade 5 Science Middle School - Earth Science Science Middle School - Life Science Science Middle School - Physical Science Science High School - Earth Science Science High school - Life Science Science High School - Physical Science	Social Studies Kindergarten Social Studies Grade 1 Social Studies Grade 2 Social Studies Grade 3 Social Studies Grade 4 Social Studies Grade 5 Social Studies Grades 6-8 - American History Social Studies Grades 6-8 - Geography Social Studies Grades 6-8 - World History Social Studies Grades 9-12 - American History Social Studies Grades 9-12 - Government Social Studies Grades 9-12 - World History

State Testing Windows

Statewide Testing Windows

State Testing Windows

Assessment	Event	2025-2026
MAP Grade-Level Assessment	Spring Summative	04/06/26-05/15/26
End-of-Course	Fall Summative	10/20/25-01/23/26
	Spring Summative	03/9/26-05/15/26
	Summer Summative
MAP-Alternate (MAP-A)	Required Instructionally Embedded Assessments Fall Window	09/08/25-12/19/25
	Required Instructionally Embedded Assessments Spring Window	02/02/26-05/15/26
WIDA ACCESS	English Language Proficiency	01/05/26-02/27/26

Contact Information

Contact	Phone	E-Mail
DESE Assessment	573-751-3545	assessment@dese.mo.gov
Grade-Level Data Recognition Corp. (DRC)	800-544-9868	maphelpdesk@datarecognitioncorp.com
End-of-Course Data Recognition Corp. (DRC)	800-544-9868	maphelpdesk@daterecognitioncorp.com
MAP-A Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)	844-675-4479	dlm-support@ku.edu
WIDA ACCESS - WIDA Website, Test Administration WIDA	866-276-7735	help@wida.us
WIDA ACCESS - Test Materials, Tech Support Data Recognition Corp. (DRC)	855-787-9615	wida@datarecognitioncorp.com
DESE Pre-Coding	573-522-3207	dsm@dese.mo.gov
Accountability Data	573-751-4426	accountabilitydata@dese.mo.gov
Missouri School Improvement Plan (MSIP)	573-751-4104	msip@dese.mo.gov