The enhanced item-selection algorithm (EISA) causes shifts in math scores that were fully accounted for in the 2025 norms and the dashboard¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · design r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person · recheck by 2029: tool and model accuracy changes quickly

Subclaims¶

q2 i? EISA prioritizes instructionally relevant, grade-level-aligned items and causes shifts in math scores, which the 2025 norms and dashboard fully account for. → MAP Growth National Dashboard user guide and FAQ 2026

Evidence¶

MAP Growth National Dashboard user guide and FAQ 2026¶

MAP Growth National Dashboard user guide and FAQ. (2026). https://www.nwea.org/map-growth-national-dashboard

q2 · i? · design · r1

Definitional documentation in the guide's key-terms section. The guide describes EISA as an item-selection update prioritizing grade-level-aligned items and states it "causes shifts in math scores" that were fully accounted for in the 2025 norms and dashboard. No effect size is printed.

"EISA is an update to how MAP Growth selects questions for students by prioritizing items that are more instructionally relevant and aligned to grade-level content. It causes shifts in math scores but was fully accounted for in the 2025 norms and this dashboard."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Post-COVID norm shifts and NWEA's enhanced item selection algorithm change the interpretation of MAP Growth metrics for school accountability — related
• Updated 2025 MAP Growth screening thresholds are set at the 35th percentile with adjustments for the Enhanced Item-Selection Algorithm — related
• EISA-based MAP Growth testing produced slightly lower fall Mathematics scores but higher winter and spring Mathematics scores than traditional MAP Growth, and equipercentile linking was used to align the two versions for norming — related
• The adaptive algorithm's item selection produces a significantly lower SEM than fixed-form tests — related