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August 6, 2021
Following the 2020 revisions to the Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), the Reading Alternate Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA, formerly Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS)) will begin assessing these standards in the spring of 2026 for students with significant cognitive disabilities. In collaboration with a committee of Minnesota educators, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has drafted the test specifications for the Reading Alternate MCA to assist with the development of the new assessments. In addition to test specifications, the document includes extended benchmarks, which are based on the new Minnesota reading benchmarks, but reduced in depth, breadth and complexity.
Members of the public are encouraged to review the proposed test specifications and provide feedback through the Reading Alternate MCA Test Specifications Feedback Survey. The survey will be open until September 3.
Feedback from multiple perspectives, including language arts and special education teachers, is important in creating the best assessment possible for Minnesota students with significant cognitive disabilities. Please share this information with applicable district staff.
Access the Reading Alt MCA Draft Test Specifications document and the survey questions in the Reading Alt MCA Test Specifications Feedback Survey document on the MDE website.
View the Reading Alt MCA Test Specifications Feedback Survey on the Alchemer website.
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