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MAAP-A Students in Accountability Projections

TKG Analytics intentionally includes MAAP-A students in accountability calculations to align with Mississippi’s state accountability model. Under state rules, MAAP-A students are included in proficiency, growth, and growth of low calculations, and their performance can meaningfully impact school and district accountability outcomes.

Because MAAP-A students do not participate in benchmark assessments during the school year, TKG Analytics applies conservative projection logic to ensure accountability projections are not overstated.

Why MAAP-A Students Appear in the Data Tracker

MAAP-A students take the MAAP-A summative assessment rather than benchmark assessments administered throughout the school year. As a result:

  • Benchmark performance data is not available during the school year
  • Growth and proficiency projections must rely on assumptions
  • Accountability projections must reflect potential risk rather than best-case outcomes

To maintain alignment with state accountability rules, MAAP-A students are displayed in the data tracker and included in accountability calculations.

Projection Assumptions Used by TKG Analytics

In the absence of benchmark data, TKG Analytics applies conservative, worst-case assumptions to prevent accountability projections from being overstated.

MAAP-A Students With a Prior-Year Score

For MAAP-A students who have a prior-year MAAP-A score:

  • The system assumes the student will not demonstrate growth on the upcoming assessment
  • The system assumes the student will not be proficient, if applicable

MAAP-A Students Without a Prior-Year Score

For MAAP-A students without a prior-year MAAP-A score:

  • The system assumes the student will participate in the assessment
  • The system assumes the student will not be proficient

These assumptions are intentionally conservative and are used only for projection purposes.

The MAAP-A Cohort

For the lowest 25% growth measure, MAAP-A students are ranked as a single cohort of their own rather than being placed in the grade cohorts other students use. MAAP-A results use the alternate performance-level scale, so they are not comparable to a general assessment scale score, and splitting a district's MAAP-A students across six grade bands would leave most bands holding one or two students.

Three rules make this cohort behave differently from a grade cohort:

  • It takes the bottom quartile only. It never widens to students below Advanced or to all students, so the expansion steps a grade cohort can reach do not apply here.
  • It is exempt from the four-student minimum. A small MAAP-A group still contributes, where a grade cohort that size would contribute no one.
  • It does not count toward the 10-student floor that decides whether the grade cohorts expand. That floor is measured on the grade cohorts alone, so a group can show ten students in total and still have widened.

On an impact's Lowest 25% Group view this appears as a MAAP-A row alongside the grade rows. For how a student is flagged for this cohort in the first place, see Score Flags; for the grade cohorts everyone else is ranked in, see How LPS Cohorts Are Determined.

Why Conservative Assumptions Are Used

Although MAAP-A students do not generate benchmark data, they are fully included in state accountability calculations. Using conservative assumptions allows schools and districts to:

  • Understand the potential accountability impact early
  • Avoid inflated projections during the school year
  • Plan instructional supports with full visibility into accountability risk

This approach ensures transparency and alignment with state accountability expectations.

Final Spring Accountability Calculations

Once official MAAP-A Spring assessment results are available:

  • TKG Analytics uploads the official scores
  • Growth and proficiency calculations are recalculated using actual student performance
  • Final Spring accountability projections reflect verified MAAP-A results

At this point, all conservative assumptions are replaced with official assessment data for the Spring Impact data projection.

Support

If you have questions about how MAAP-A students are reflected in accountability projections:

  • Contact your district administrator
  • Helpdesk Ticket: Helpdesk Ticket
  • Website: https://tkganalytics.org