by Lizzy Hermosilla ‘23

MAP stands for Measure of Academic Performance, and there is a math and reading variation that MCPS students have been accustomed to taking since elementary school. During online learning, many high school students are confused about why they are taking this standardized test again after they were told they would not do it after 8th grade. According to Principal Timothy Britton, “The State directed counties to administer a diagnostic test during the first semester in order to find out where students stand…”

I know from personal experience that the MAP test is both annoying and frustratingly tedious to take, but I can accept the concern of the Maryland Department of Education about the performance of students after there were countless missed instructional days last spring due to the pandemic. Despite the initial concern of the state, if students of all grade levels, especially high school students, were required to take the MAP test again this year it would be a waste of time. Asking students to take MAP again would take away the already limited learning we have with teachers. This would cause more stress and confusion among students which would be counter-intuitive to the state’s initial purpose for taking the test. Not only would this test be an inaccurate source of data on the progress of high school students because many students did not care to try on the test, but it would also be a hindrance to the already limited classroom time with teachers this year.