|
A semiannual update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Vol. 3, No. 1: Nov. 25, 2024
By Jennifer Dugan
Director of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
As we implement academic standards and statewide assessments aligned to the revised academic standards in science, ELA, and mathematics, our division continues to communicate regularly so educators are aware of resources and are supported. Two ways the division communicates is through this semiannual Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment Newsletter and the monthly Educator Edition.
These communications utilize contact information in the Minnesota Department of Education-Organization Reference Glossary (MDE-ORG). All contact information in MDE-ORG is updated and maintained by the district’s Site Verification Coordinator (SVC). You can look up the SVC for your district in MDE-ORG. If the SVC has any questions about the process, they can contact mde.school-verify@state.mn.us.
If you are receiving this communication, please make sure your information is correct in MDE-ORG. Also, help your colleagues by checking their information. Be neighborly!
We want to ensure everyone has this information to share within your schools to effectively implement the academic standards.
|
Back to Top
As the standards to which the assessments are aligned change, the assessments themselves must also change. The Minnesota statewide assessment program will continue to undergo changes over the next few years, as outlined by the graphic below.
The first year of a new Science MCA will be in 2024–25. This is the first year of the new MCA-IV series of assessments aligned to revised academic standards, as well as the new Science Alternate MCA (Alt MCA) that is replacing the MTAS. The new science assessments will be aligned to the 2019 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science. Refer to the Changes to Supports and Accommodations article in this newsletter for more information about key changes related to new assessments.
As well as being aligned to the new standards, the Science Alt MCA is designed to provide additional administration options. It can be administered in online, paper, or hybrid (any combination of online and paper) formats to meet student needs. There will also be new test materials available to support Alt MCA administrations and new administration policies, including an early stopping rule.
Several tools and resources are available to support understanding of the new series of assessments. Student Readiness Tools (SRTs) for the 2024–25 school year are available for all statewide assessments on the Student Readiness Tools page of PearsonAccess Next to help students prepare for the online or paper MCA/Alt MCA they will be taking.
In addition to using the SRT, the best way to prepare students for the content of the MCA is to provide instruction that addresses the K–12 standards and benchmarks. The released or sample questions in the Minnesota Questions Tool (MQT) are intended to support educators in understanding how the academic standards are assessed on the MCA and Alt MCA, to help identify student misconceptions, and to provide examples of questions that assess student understanding at different Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels. In the MQT, all Science MCA and Alt MCA items are aligned to the 2019 Minnesota Academic Standards. For Reading and Mathematics MCA, the items are released to the current Minnesota Academic Standards being assessed (2010 for reading, 2007 for mathematics).
A third resource that will be available in December 2024 are Performance Level Descriptors. MDE is currently finalizing the Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs), previously named Achievement Level Descriptors, that describe learning of the grade-level expectations set by benchmarks or extended benchmarks in the Minnesota Academic Standards. The PLDs are used to describe what it means to be proficient on the Science MCA/Alt MCA following the first administration in Spring 2025. Draft Science MCA/Alt MCA Performance Level Descriptors will be available in December on the Statewide Assessments page of the MDE website. Refer to the Science Education Conference Aligned with Standards Work article in this newsletter for related information.
Back to Top
As of Aug. 23, Computer Science Education Advancement Grant applications opened and accepted applications until Sept. 13. Grantees were notified in October 2024. These grants were designed to support Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), or a consortium of LEAs, for the implementation of high-quality educator training and planning for K–12 expansion of computer science (CS) learning experiences. This initiative aligns with the Minnesota Computer Science State Strategic Plan and aims to enhance K–12 CS education across Minnesota by providing support for awareness building, district planning, and professional learning opportunities for educators.
The primary goal of this grant is to support the expanded access of CS education to all K–12 students in Minnesota, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to support LEAs in developing a plan for expanding and sustaining equitable computer science, and to support educators in delivering high-quality computer science instruction. The grants support professional development, resources, district planning, and other essential components to build a robust K–12 computer science education ecosystem within LEAs.
Grants were awarded to LEAs who are new to offering K–12 computer science learning experiences and LEAs that are expanding their existing computer science offerings.
As these grantees are selected and announced, Andrea Wilson Vazquez, the computer science specialist, will work with leadership teams from the LEAs in a cohort model to share progress, challenges, and best practices around their grant goals. Grantees will also participate in SCRIPT (Strategic CSforALL Resource & Implementation Planning Tool) training to develop a plan to develop an equitable and sustainable computer science education pathway within their LEA.
Back to Top
After the first operational administration for each assessment, a Standard Setting committee of educators and community members will use the Science MCA-IV and Alt MCA Performance Level Descriptors to define levels of performance on the new assessment and determine what it means to be proficient on the Minnesota Academic Standards in Science.
For the Science MCA-IV, MDE is looking for a diverse group of grades 3 through high school science, special education and multilingual learner educators representing science education throughout the state to serve on this one-time committee. In addition, for the Alt MCA standard-setting committee, special education teachers should work closely with students with significant cognitive disabilities. The selection of members for this committee will balance grade-level and content-area knowledge of the 2019 Minnesota Science Standards, geographic distribution and the diversity of our student population.
Science, special education and multilingual learner educators are encouraged to apply to be part of these in-person committees to be held in Summer 2025. Applications will be open until Jan. 10:
Please consider nominating someone in your district by sending their contact information to mde.testing@state.mn.us or encourage someone in your district or school to apply.
Back to Top
The Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment is excited about the continued partnerships with curriculum directors and others district level leaders. For 2024–25, the Academic Standards team will continue to keep curriculum directors and other district-level leaders informed using the Educator Edition, website updates, and Curriculum Director sessions. In addition, individual content specialists have added leadership open office hours in lieu of the Curriculum Director office hours implemented last year. Given the abundance of information curriculum directors receive at these sessions regarding updates to standards review and revision, statutory guidance, implementation of Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards, and administering assessments to measure Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards, Academic Standards recognize that Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) are in different places with standards implementation, needing more specific content support, and professional development.
MDE’s Academic Standards team will continue to bring agency experts, such as Early Learning, Office of American Indian Education, COMPASS/MnMTSS and Literacy teams, to Curriculum Director sessions to ensure curriculum directors have updated contacts, information and support available from Minnesota Department of Education. The focus is to continue to ensure district leaders have a greater understanding of the tools and resources available to them, a clear understanding of the Academic Standards, and available technical assistance available so all students have access to high-quality content and instruction. Part of this work also requires obtaining feedback after each of the Curriculum Director meetings to ensure the curriculum director/LEA needs are being addressed in the future sessions and articulate Minnesota’s road map toward academic standards implementation.
Using the data from these survey questions relating to sharing of information and resources, we recognize much of the information learned and gained from Curriculum Director sessions is brought back to the administration (district office), administration (school board), and classroom educators. More than half of curriculum directors recommended professional development around quarterly standards implementation and to maintain a virtual space for delivery. This information helps inform the direction of the 2024–25 Content Specialist support to offer as well as Curriculum Director presentations.
Therefore, content specialists also are expanding the professional development offerings with Content-Area Leaders sessions throughout the year. It is strongly recommended that not only curriculum directors can attend; moreover, it is especially important that content leaders, PLC Team leads and/or peer coaches attend to support the educators in the field that they are working with.
Content-Area Leaders Meetings
|
Content Area
|
Meetings
|
How to Access
|
|
Arts
|
To be announced
|
Email alina.campana@state.mn.us to be added to the contact list; also check the MDE Arts webpage for updates and announcements.
|
|
Computer Science
|
- Oct. 15, 3–4:30 p.m.
- Jan. 14, 3–4:30 p.m.
- May 6, 3–4:30 p.m.
- August 2025, TBD (Hybrid)
|
Email andrea.w.vazquez@state.mn.us to RSVP for the Aug. 14, meeting or to be added to the contact list.
|
|
English Language Arts
|
Every other month (virtual):
- Nov. 19, 8–9:30 a.m.
- Jan. 21, 8–9:30 a.m.
- March 18, 8–9:30 a.m.
- May 27, 8–9:30 a.m.
|
Email kristin.bauck@state.mn.us to be added to the contact list.
|
|
Ethnic Studies
|
Quarterly—Dates to be announced
|
Email sue.xiong@state.mn.us to be added to the contact list.
|
|
Gifted Education
|
GT Boot Camp for new coordinators (1–3 years) meets second Wednesday of the month, September–April from 9–11 a.m.
|
Email wendy.behrens@state.mn.us to be added to the contact list. Check the Gifted Education web page for professional learning announcements.
|
|
Math
|
Two two-hour Minnesota Math Leader PLC’s each month (September–June) including MDE math updates.
- Monthly School Day option
- Monthly After School option
|
Join the Minnesota Math Leaders Group to receive emails connecting you to 2024–25 PLC dates/times and Zoom links. Email sara.vanderwerf@state.mn.us with your questions.
|
|
Physical Education
|
MNSHAPE Conference Nov. 4–5
Webinars available 2nd Thursday of the Month beginning Dec. 12
|
Check the MDE Physical Education Web Page for the more information.
|
|
Science
|
- Jan. 16, 9 a.m.–noon
- April 24, 9 a.m.–noon
|
Email mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us to be added to the email list. Registration for each meeting goes out one month in advance.
|
|
Social Studies
|
Monthly—most months include both virtual and in-person options.
|
Join the social studies mailing list or email brittany.rawson-haeg@state.mn.us.
|
Content-Area Office Hours (informal)
The Minnesota Conference on Science Education (MnCOSE) is hosted each year by the Minnesota Science Teachers Association (MnSTA), and included featured speakers, workshops, presentation sessions, exhibit booths, vendors, and local tours for Minnesota science educators. MnSTA is celebrating 60 years of supporting science educators here in Minnesota. The theme of MnCOSE this year is “Continuing the Legacy: Empowering Minds & Inspiring Futures.”
Aligning the theme with the work of Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment, MDE has developed multiple presentations focused on supporting full implementation of the 2019 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science, as well as information about the MCA-IV, which students will take this spring. The MDE Science Team continues to be involved as a part of MnSTA's "Making Sense of Science" series and is hosting regular monthly office hours starting to support this work.
Recognizing the important connection between Academic Standards and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, the team is working on Science Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs). MDE hopes to hear feedback and questions from teachers that will inform introduction of the PLDs moving forward, including upcoming presentations to Science District Leaders. MDE’s goal this year is to continue to introduce and expand the PLDs as well as support districts and teachers in using the PLDs to inform instruction. This is part of helping districts understand the connections between standards, instruction and assessment. Please feel free to reach out to Angie Kolonich, science specialist, with any questions about these opportunities.
MDE will also continue to celebrate our PAEMST finalists for our recruitment efforts during this next award cycle. Applications close on Feb. 6.
Back to Top
With new assessments, MDE seeks to continuously improve the supports, tools, and accommodations available in order to more closely align with what students using during instruction. As a result, some accommodations and supports will only be available for the Science MCA, as they are developed along with the new assessment.
Multiple staff members may be involved in the process of selecting, documenting, administering, and evaluating the use of universal supports and accommodations within a district. Processes must be in place to ensure educators are aware of available universal supports or accommodations for statewide assessments.
Annually, MDE updates the Guidance for Universal Supports and Accommodations for Minnesota Statewide Assessments, which is a resource developed specifically for district and school staff. This is a companion document to Chapter 4 of the Procedures Manual, which is a resource for District Assessment Coordinators. While much of the information is the same between the Guidance and Chapter 4, it allows some text to be more specific to each audience (district/school staff and DACs, respectively). The Guidance document is posted on the District Resources page under the Universal Supports and Accommodations Resources expandable header, along with a stand-alone version of the infographic summarizing the available universal supports and accommodations for the MCAs. Please ensure staff are aware of and have access to these resources for both decision-making and test administration guidance.
Ultimately, the decision to provide supports or accommodations for testing should be a collaborative one focused on the strengths and needs of each individual student. As decisions are made, confirm or develop policies and procedures for how information will be communicated within the school and district to ensure that students receive appropriate universal supports and/or accommodations.
Back to Top
The MCA has both an addition and expansion to the calculators available on the Science and Mathematics MCA.
First, the Desmos calculator will be available in addition to the TI calculators. This means all students in grades 3 through high school will have two online calculators to use—both the Desmos and TI calculators—for questions where a calculator is allowed. Later this fall, more specific information with options to try out each calculator will be available. When it is ready, you will see information available at:
In addition, the online MCA calculator options will also include an electronic version of the hundreds chart and multiplication table. All students in grades 3 through high school will have the mathematics tables available for all questions where a calculator may be used. If a student typically takes the accommodated paper version of the MCA in order to use the hundreds chart or multiplication table, it should be reevaluated if that is still necessary or if the student can take the online version of the test.
Back to Top
Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
Sign up to receive the Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment Newsletter
Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help | MDE Website
|
