NWEA and Newsela

Newsela allows districts to sync NWEA MAP Growth data to help us recommend initial article levels for students.

When students do not yet have performance data within Newsela, and MAP Growth data is imported into Newsela, students automatically see all content at the Lexile level closest to their MAP Growth scores on both assignments and independently selected texts.

However, as students begin engaging with Newsela content and quizzes, their performance data from within Newsela will carry more weight into their recommended article level than the NWEA data.

In order to make recommendations based on Newsela performance, students must have taken at least one quiz or one Check for Understanding activity. Assigned and Independent Work carry the same weight when calculating the recommended article level.

When determining recommended article levels, Newsela takes into consideration the following factors, in order of weighted contribution:

  • Prior quiz interactions

  • Checks for Understanding interactions

  • Guided Highlighting interactions

  • Student’s academic grade level (from rostering)

  • NWEA/MAP scores (if available)

Each student’s MAP Growth-based reading level will be visible in the Student Overview report, with an indicator that shows this value was informed by MAP Growth data. 

Teachers can access individual students' NWEA score From the Classroom Data report by clicking on a student's name under the section 'Reading Activity'

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This will lead teachers to the individual Student Overview page, where the NWEA MAP Growth score will be listed

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Students who were not able to take the MAP Growth assessment will have Newsela’s Article Level Average displayed instead.

Newsela’s integration with NWEA’s MAP Growth can only be set up by a district administrator. In order to connect NWEA MAP Growth scores with Newsela, districts must set up a Clever or OneRoster connection. 


Please contact your Customer Success Manager or our Support Team for more information or  to begin the set up process for your district.