Today Marks the Start of the MAP Testing Window for 2026

By : Abigail Medler

Today is the first day of 2026 MAP testing in districts across the state. You can read more about MAP testing here and view the full results from 2025 here.

In 2025, fifth and sixth graders scored higher in ELA than they did in 2024. These gains are important to note as remaining grades (3, 4, 7, and 8) saw ELA scores decrease or flatline in the same period. ELA scores have yet to rebound as the math scores have and remain, on average, four to eight scale score points lower than in 2018 across all grades. Students nationally are facing a literacy crisis, and the students in Missouri are no exception with average scale scores in all grades remaining at the “basic” proficiency level, as they have since 2018.

Proficiency rates show a similar story, with grades 5, 6, and 7 showing only modest improvements from 2024 to 2025, but all grades still falling well below pre-pandemic levels. Only 4th grade saw a mild decline from 2024 to 2025, but across the board, fewer than 50% of students are scoring proficient or advanced in ELA in any grade, mirroring the Math proficiency rates.

ELA Scale Scores Mostly Declined or Stagnated from 2024–2025

ELA MAP Scale Scores by Grade (3–8), 2018–2025

ELA Proficiency Rates Rise in Grades 5–7 From 2024–2025, Most Other Grades Remain Level

Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient or Advanced on ELA MAP by Grade (3–8), 2018–2025

Taken together, these figures suggest a decrease in early literacy. Although no doubt exacerbated by the pandemic, the decline may have started before the pandemic. This trend has been covered by other media and education research outlets such as the New York Times and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). According to NCES data, literacy rates have been steadily declining since 2012. Missouri data seems to reflect this more widespread national trend.

Published April 2026.

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