Multiple Administrations Adaptive Testing
maat package is based on the assessment framework involving multiple tests administered throughout the year using multiple item pools vertically scaled and multiple phases (stages) of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) within each test allowing for transitioning from one item pool (and associated constraints) to another between phases as determined necessary by a selected transition policy to enhance the quality of measurement.
The current version of maat supports three administrations (Fall, Winter, and Spring) with two phases within each administration (Phase 1 and Phase 2), for six modules in total administered over the course of a year.
Within each administration, students begin Phase 1 at the grade of record. One exception to this is that if a student's final \(\theta\) from the previous administration was above the 'advanced achievement' cut score of the grade of record, then the student begins Phase 1 of the following administration in an above-grade item pool. For example, if a Grade 3 student's final \(\theta\) from the Fall administration was \(\theta = 1.1\) and the 'advanced achievement' cut score for Grade 3 was \(\theta = 1.0\), then the student begins Phase 1 of the Winter administration in a Grade 4 item pool.
Within each administration, at the completion of Phase 1, business rules are used to determine whether a student is routed to an on-grade or off-grade item pool in Phase 2.
Detailed descriptions of the assessment design are available in the vignette.