
News
NWEA Acquired by HMH
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a learning technology company known as HMH, will acquire the research and assessment nonprofit NWEA. The press release states that, “The combined organization will harness the collective power of instruction and research-based insights to support educators in their efforts to drive better outcomes for students.”
NWEA, the Northwest Evaluation Association, was used by 10,000 school systems last year and will now function as a division of HMH. NWEA’s materials will be integrated with the HMH platform, and NWEA’s suite of MAP assessments will not be impacted. Tools will continue to be available to educators, and assessments and workshops that are scheduled will proceed as normal.
Proceeds from the acquisition will be used to form a new national charity based in Oregon. The details have yet to be finalized, but the foundation will serve students and educators across the country.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS Cancels NWEA MAP Exam
Last week, on Thursday, 4/15, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced that they are cancelling the NWEA MAP test for all elementary students: kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition, the NWEA MAP will remain canceled through the full selective enrollment and academic center testing cycles for current 5th and 7th graders for both CPS and non-CPS students. It is still unclear what CPS will do for rising 5th and 7th graders in the next testing cycle.
Though the NWEA MAP is canceled, other components of the selective enrollment and academic center admissions processes will remain relatively the same. For students applying to academic centers, they will still need to take the Academic Center Entrance Exam (which is typically administered in late fall/winter), and schools will still also use the student’s 5th-grade grades in math, reading, science, and social studies. For students applying for admission into selective enrollment high schools, they will need to take the CPS High School Admissions Test (administered in late fall/winter). This test will be the same as the Selective Enrollment High School exam (SEHS) from previous years, however the name will be changed. In addition, as usual, selective enrollment schools will also look at the student’s 7th-grade grades in math, reading, science, and social studies.
Test Prep Chicago will offer test prep courses for both the Academic Center Entrance Exam as well as the CPS High School Admissions Test in the fall and will likely add dates for these to our website in the late summer (or as soon as CPS announces those test dates). In addition, we offer one-on-one tutoring for both tests as well as subject matter tutoring and help with school, and we can begin this at any time. For more information about our services or to set up tutoring, feel free to call us at (312) 848-1266 or send us an email at info@testprepchicago.com.
Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
NWEA MAP Test Information
The NWEA MAP test is a common-core-aligned, computer-adaptive test designed to quantify a student’s knowledge of math and reading. Unlike most other standardized tests, the NWEA MAP adapts its difficulty level based on whether or not a student selects a correct answer. If a correct answer is selected, the test becomes more challenging, asking out-of-grade-level questions.
After the student completes the test, both teachers as well as students and their parents will receive a RIT score which correlates to a percentile (both the RIT and the percentile should be included in the report from NWEA MAP). The percentile represents where a particular student’s level is compared with students across the country. NWEA’s website states, “NWEA uses anonymous assessment data from over 10.2 million students to create national norms…By drawing from an incredibly wide pool of anonymized test records (pulled from more than six million test events, 23,000 schools, and 49 states), we’re able to accurately represent the US school-age population.”
In addition, the RIT score is determined not by what kinds of questions the student can answer (for example, computation and problem solving), but rather at what level (for example, a simple addition problem versus an addition problem which has an imaginary number in it). To see examples of difficulty level compared to approximate RIT scores, visit the NWEA MAP website and search for the “RIT Reference Brochure.”
Furthermore, this test provides 1/3 of the points required to attend a Selective Enrollment High School or Academic Center. Each section of the test (reading and math) is worth 150 points, with a total of 300 points up for grabs based on their NWEA MAP score. While CPS has not yet announced the NWEA MAP test dates for this upcoming spring of 2021, we anticipate both CPS and non-CPS 5th and 7th-grade students will take the NWEA MAP during the testing window of mid-May to mid-June as was supposed to be the case last year (but was canceled because of Covid-19).
Visit Test Prep Chicago’s homepage (testprepchicago.com) to sign-up for our newsletter and receive up-to-date news. We’ll be sure to send an email as soon as CPS releases more concrete information about NWEA MAP test dates, as well as more information when we add one-day workshops to our website. As always, we offer one-on-one tutoring for NWEA MAP and can begin this at any time. Visit our website for more information on pricing, and how to reach out to us to set up sessions.
Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS Announces Fully Remote Return to School Through 11/6
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Janice Jackson announced on Wednesday (8/5) that CPS would complete at least the first quarter of the school year (through 11/6) online. This comes a few weeks after CPS announced a possible hybrid learning plan where students would attend school for at least two days a week. However, as COVID-19 cases have begun to rise in Chicago again, Jackson said they were “not comfortable with the state of the pandemic and the national response,” and that they intended to revisit their hybrid model when it felt safe enough to do so.
The announcement also came a short two days after the Chicago Teachers Union made plans to potentially call its House of Delegates together to vote on a possible strike. However, Mayor Lightfoot contended the news of the CTU did not influence the city’s decision to go fully remote stating, “As we have now repeatedly said about every decision we’ve made in the context of this pandemic, we have to be guided by the science, period.”
This decision also came to light after weeks of CPS sending surveys and holding town halls to get the general consensus of the needs of the many families who will be impacted by moving to a remote learning model. For families of essential workers as well as other families who will not be able to stay home with their kids, the City of Chicago is looking into providing free childcare opportunities. Mayor Lightfoot also mentioned that free school meals would be offered around the city just as they were in the spring. CPS will also provide devices as well as free internet access for any family who needs them.
In addition, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced plans to move forward with reopening Chicago Catholic and parochial schools despite CPS’s announcement to go fully remote for the first quarter, stating that it is in the “best interests of children.” They will offer an e-learning component for students who want to opt-out, and more information for that will be released in the coming weeks.
CPS has not yet released any information regarding making up the NWEA MAP test for students testing into Academic Centers and Selective Enrollment high schools. Moreover, they haven’t released information on SEHS testing, and if the pandemic will affect these procedures in any way. Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as CPS makes it available. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of our website’s homepage to receive email updates about selective enrollment admissions in Chicago.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
An Overview of Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy Academic Center
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy (also known as Brooks or Brooks AC) Academic Center is one of seven Academic Centers in Chicago. Located in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood, Brooks Academic Center resides in the city’s south side. Brooks seeks out high performing middle school students who are ready to take on a more intensive curriculum in preparation for high school. These students typically begin at Brooks as 7th graders and finish the AC program at the end of their 8th grade year.
Brooks AC takes a more personalized approach to their students learning; students are encouraged to utilize Brooks’ extensive academic resources in order to provide more than just an intensive Academic Center experience. By incorporating these resources into the students’ every day curriculum, students get a chance to learn at their own pace by receiving varying support and coaching dependent on the students’ learning abilities and needs. This goes beyond the conventional confines of a classroom by teaching the students to master content instead of focusing on completion and traditional participation. This reinforces the rigorous curriculum that Brooks is most well known for, but also allows for the students’ learning to be the first priority at Brooks AC.
Students are also invited to participate in select extracurriculars at Brooks Academic Center. These can range from selected sports, Math Team, ComEd STEM Club, and more. Students are also offered a variety of tutoring and support services to ensure that their transition into high school curriculum is as smooth as possible. These include resources such as an After School and Lunchtime Tutoring program, a mentoring program, and an in-class Learning Assistant program. These programs and more are all to ensure the academic success of all the students in the AC program.
To find more information about Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy Academic Center, visit Brooks’s website: http://brookscollegeprep.org/academic-center.
Written by former Tutoring Coordinator, Ramisha Ejaz
For more information about Test Prep Chicago contact:
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS To Require Face Coverings and Temperature Checks in Fall, May Hold Classes in Alternative Locations Such as McCormick Place, Park District Fieldhouses
Chicago Public Schools released a statement on their social media on Friday, June 12th that they are launching a series of surveys to provide a well-rounded, comprehensive set of guidelines for the upcoming school year (2020-21). CPS noted, “A school district as large and complex as ours requires thorough guidance that accounts for the wide variety of needs in our schools, and we are working through those scenarios so that in the weeks ahead, we can present you with draft guidelines for reopening school buildings.”
In addition, they provided the following guidance recommended from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that they already know will be enacted in the fall:
Everyone will be required to wear face coverings. Schools will be given a limited amount of coverings for students and staff members at the beginning of the year.
Hand sanitizer will be made available throughout all CPS buildings.
Strict cleaning and disinfection rules will be in place.
Students and staff members will receive temperature checks every day.
WGN9 Chicago also reported on Friday, June 12th that according to the chairman of City Council’s Education Committee, the City Council has begun looking into alternative locations to hold classes to give teachers and students the appropriate amount of space in the classroom to adhere to six-foot social distancing guidelines. Possible locations for classes include McCormick Place, Navy Pier, and Park District fieldhouses, among others. However, a spokesperson for McCormick Place said she had not yet heard of these plans.
CPS has not yet released any information regarding making up the NWEA MAP test for students testing into Academic Centers and Selective Enrollment high schools. Moreover, they haven’t released information on SEHS testing, and if the pandemic will affect these procedures in any way. Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as CPS makes it available. Be sure to subscribe to our website on our homepage to receive email updates about selective enrollment admissions in Chicago.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Illinois Schools Closed Through End of Academic Year
After Illinois’s largest single-day jump in known Coronavirus cases, Governor Pritzker announced on Friday, April 17th that all Illinois schools (public and private) would remain closed through the end of the academic year. This comes after approximately 20 other states –including Michigan and Indiana—issued state-wide closures for their schools through the end of their academic years in order to continue mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
On Monday, April 13th Chicago Public Schools began their remote learning plan for all CPS students which included delivering 100,000 laptops, tablets, etc. to students who need them (for more information, see our blog post from April 1st). Schools will continue with this remote learning plan through the duration of the year, and while students are encouraged and expected to participate, school work through remote learning will not be counted against students in their final grades.
In a statement released by CPS, Janice K. Jackson (Chief Executive Officer) and LaTanya D. McDade (Chief Education Officer) assured families saying, “We know this is a tough time, but Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be here to support you every step of the way.” They also offered these tips for quality remote learning through the rest of the year:
Visit cps.edu/remotelearning for the most up-to-date information on remote learning and to access valuable learning resources.
If your school is providing remote learning online and your child needs a device, please contact their principal.
Your involvement is key to ensuring your child puts forth their best effort. Please take advantage of the resources offered by your school, including remote office hours with your child’s teachers.
Please utilize Parent Portal to monitor your child’s progress.
In addition, they wanted to make sure families knew that Grab-and-Go meals would remain available throughout the rest of the school year. For more information on how/where to receive Grab-and-Go meals, visit cps.edu/mealsites. While some logistics of remote learning through the end of the year remain uncertain including “grading in quarter four, grade advancement, and requirements for graduation,” CPS reassured families that they are working to find the best solutions possible for families and will keep everyone updated as soon as they know more.
Chicago Public Schools has still yet to make an announcement regarding when and if students will make up their spring NWEA MAP test for selective enrollment high schools. However, Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and let families know as soon as CPS disseminates that information. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter on our homepage, testprepchicago.com, for all the most current information.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266