Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
12-2021
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Susan Curtin
Abstract
In recent years, standardized assessment has played a major role in the American school system. Standardized testing, sometimes referred to as high-stakes testing, is a measure to ensure accountability and equity. One standardized test, the NWEA MAP assessment, is used to measure growth and proficiency. When students complete the assessment, they receive a Rasch UnIT (RIT) score and a prediction of growth for the next time they take the assessment, as well as a projection of whether or not they are on track for that expected growth (NWEA, 2021). The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of the supportive practices of building leaders related to standardized testing, specifically the NWEA MAP assessment. For this study, 11 elementary teachers were interviewed via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed following Creswell and Poth’s suggestions for analysis specific to phenomenological research. Five themes were discovered: preparing for the NWEA MAP assessment is twofold; analyzing the data post-test; testing pressure affecting self-efficacy; feeling a sense of support from colleagues; desiring a focus on holistic assessment. These results may be useful for building leaders as they work to support teachers with standardized testing and using the data and to prepare for professional development based on teacher and student needs.
Subject Categories
Educational Administration and Supervision
Keywords
Standardized Testing, Elementary Teachers, Administrator Support
Number of Pages
99
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Neeves, Erica, "Supporting Teachers Through Standardized Testing: Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of Administrator Support" (2021). Dissertations and Theses. 13.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/13