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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Sept. 17, 2025
Important Dates
No later than Oct. 1: Post district testing calendar to website
Quick Links
Final summary-level results for the 2025 Science MCA-IV and Alternate MCA are scheduled to be available in Test Results Summary within the next 10 business days. A separate communication will be sent to District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) when science results are available in Test Results Summary.
Results Release Process
Final student-level and summary assessment results are released to districts in Assessment Secure Reports, beginning with District and School Student Results (DSR/SSR) files and then Test Results Summary reports. These results are embargoed, meaning districts and schools may begin reviewing and using results for planning purposes but cannot share or discuss them publicly. When MDE lifts the embargo, final assessment results are then made available to the public on the Minnesota Report Card and the Data Reports and Analytics pages of the MDE website, and Individual Student Reports (ISRs) are provided to districts for distribution to families. Results will be reported publicly by Oct. 1.
Resources
An updated user guide for Test Results Summary will be posted on the Assessment Secure Reports page when science results are released. This updated guide will include information specific to science results.
In addition, MDE has created a new resource to support districts with the release of the new science results and continued academic standards implementation. The Guidance for Science MCA-IV and Alternate MCA Results Release document provides an overview of the revised Minnesota Academic Standards and new statewide assessments in science, as well as guidance and resources for using these results for future planning and continuous improvement for standards implementation. It will be posted to the District Resources page under Test Score Interpretation Resources soon.
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A majority of the translated versions of the MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA Individual Student Report Quick Guides are now available on the Translated Documents page of the Students and Families Statewide Testing page of the MDE website. Karen is anticipated to be available by next week. English versions of the Quick Guides can be found on the Assessment Results page.
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Video ISRs are personalized video report resources for students with Reading and Mathematics MCA and Reading and Mathematics MTAS scores. Parents/guardians can access video ISRs by scanning a QR code on their student’s ISR with a smart device. If parents/guardians do not have access to a smart device, they can contact their student’s school for a link to the video.
New for 2025: All students with MCA and MTAS scores are provided video ISRs in English. Video ISRs do not default to a translated language even if the home language is indicated in enrollment data. To access translated video ISRs, select the language in the dropdown menu on the top left of the video player webpage. Videos are translated in the 10 most populous languages in Minnesota: Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Refer to the Video ISR Resource FAQ (2024-25) for additional information on video ISR resources.
For additional questions, please contact the Pearson help desk at 888-817-8659 or submit a help desk request online.
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MDE issued reimbursements to districts based on the requests entered by the Sept. 5 deadline in the Graduation Requirements Records (GRR) system. The payment is identified with “ACT/SAT REIM2025-09-10,” followed by a unique number (for example, B0000039).
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The draft 2027-28 Testing Calendar is posted on the Statewide Testing page, under the Testing Calendar expandable header. Send any comments to mde.testing@state.mn.us. Draft testing calendars are posted for one year before they are finalized. The 2025-26 Testing Calendar and 2026-27 Testing Calendar are also available.
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In spring 2026, the Reading MCA-IV assessments will be administered for the first time. These new assessments are aligned to the Reading strand of the 2020 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts. There are several changes to the accommodations and supports available on the Reading MCA to align with the changes available in universal supports and accommodations in the new MCA-IV series of assessments. Below is a high level overview of some of the changes on the Reading MCA.
Similar to the Science MCA-IV, translated and glossed word lists will be available to all students for Reading MCA later this fall. In addition, the English glossary feature will be available in the online Reading MCA (items only).
Accommodations available to students with an IEP/504:
- Similar to Science MCA materials, for the Reading MCA:
- A 24-pt large print test book will no longer be available. Instead, the 18-pt large print test book format will be improved to make the materials more manageable for students.
- A separate passages book will be provided with the paper test books (12-pt, 18-pt, or braille) to make it easier for students to access passages information alongside the items included in the test book.
- Assistive technology online test forms are available that allow assistive technology devices to interact directly with the test; this includes screen readers and non-screen reader devices.
- Read-aloud accommodations (script/human reader, text-to-speech, or assistive technology online form for screen readers) are now available with the new Reading MCA for eligible students. MDE must approve their use for each student. With these accommodations, the reading passages and test items are read to the student. Read-aloud accommodations will be an approved accommodation for a small number of students who meet one of these criteria:
- Students with documented blindness or low vision that severely limits or prevents them from accessing printed text and have not yet learned braille.
- Students with deafness or hard of hearing and whose print disability severely limits their ability to decode text.
- Students with documented blindness or low vision who use a screen reader in their daily instruction.
Later this fall, more details about these supports and accommodations will be available in both the Procedures Manual for Minnesota Statewide Assessments 2025-26 and a guidance document intended to be used by district and school staff who have a role in decision-making and/or test administration with universal supports and accommodations for statewide assessments. This document, the Guidance for Universal Supports and Accommodations for Minnesota Statewide Assessments 2025-26, will be available soon on the District Resources page.
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The Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment Division is currently seeking an Education Consultant 3: Computer Science Education Specialist to join the Academic Standards team. This position will provide direction, leadership, and strengthen capacity of school districts and to the Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment team so that all students can meet state academic standards and are prepared for postsecondary and career success in a technology-based future. The Computer Science Education Specialist will serve as the state expert and primary resource for K-12 Computer Science Education and will be responsible for managing grants, facilitating the implementation of the Computer Science State Strategic Plan, and supporting the implementation of statewide academic standards related to computer science.
If you or someone you know may be interested in a new and challenging opportunity, consult the position description and application instructions on the State of Minnesota Careers website. The Job ID is 88679, and the posting is open until Oct. 1. Visit the State of Minnesota Careers website for more information and to apply.
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Implementing the Alternate Assessment Eligibility Guidelines
Direct Service Providers, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Team Members, and Administrators who support Assessment planning and decision making (District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), directors) are invited to attend a webinar with MDE Special Education and Alternate Assessment Specialists to review the current alternate assessment eligibility guideline resources and use real world examples to apply the decision-making model.
Understanding the ARC Process through District Examples
District Assessment Coordinators (DACs), Special Education Coordinators, and Special Education Directors are invited to attend a webinar with MDE Special Education and Alternate Assessment Specialists to learn about the history and purpose of the annually required Assurance Rationale and Context (ARC) process. The session will also explore how to best utilize district data and provide examples from district staff on how they use the ARC process to plan and implement their professional development surrounding alternate assessment and eligibility.
FERPA Online Training Modules
The U.S. Department of Education has created a helpful training module for education stakeholders to improve and maintain their knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This training module is interactive and requires only a short registration for use. The module takes around one hour to complete. You can access the module listed below on the Online Training Module page of the Student Privacy website.
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For the next 2-3 weeks, there will be limited coverage in the mde.testing@state.mn.us inbox, and email and phone response times may be delayed. Thank you for your patience during this period.
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