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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Nov. 26, 2025
Important Dates
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Dec. 12: Deadline to indicate the number of WIDA ACCESS Online testers for grades 1-12 and order test materials during Materials Ordering in the WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS)
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Quick Links
In December, MDE will provide the Test Administration Training for all District Assessment Coordinators (DACs). This training will focus on new and clarified information from the Procedures Manual for the 2025-26 school year.
MDE is offering two virtual training sessions, and DACs only need to attend one session. If DACs are unable to attend either of the virtual training sessions, a pre-recorded training will be posted to the DAC Catalog of the Learning Management System (LMS) (DAC catalog > MDE DAC Trainings tag) following the virtual sessions. MDE recommends that DACs attend one of the virtual sessions, if possible, as they will include opportunities to collaborate with other DACs from across the state.
Registration for each session closes 24 hours in advance of each event. Registrations made after that time will not be approved.
The Test Administration Training is required for all DACs to prepare for spring testing; all DACs must complete this training. Participation will be automatically indicated in the LMS following the virtual training events. For those who view the recording, their participation will appear in the LMS upon completion. Participants must complete 80% of the training to get credit.
Please note: MDE aims to deliver our presentations in a way that will be accessible for our participants. If you anticipate needing accommodations, contact mde.testing@state.mn.us. MDE requests a two-week advance notice to provide accommodations and 48-hour notice to cancel them. If the request comes within two weeks of the event, MDE will still make an effort to provide the accommodation.
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Alternate Assessment Participation Report Update
The Alternate Assessment Participation Report has been updated to include 2025 assessment and participation data. This report serves as a starting point for district-level conversations around alternate assessment participation and will assist districts in completing the Assurance, Rationale and Context (ARC) on an annual basis. The report is available on the MDE Secure Reports webpage (MDE website > Data Center > Secure Reports). For more information about the contents of this report or how to use the data provided, please refer to the Alternate Assessment Participation District Report User Guide.
MTAS/Alt MCA Eligibility Requirements and the Assurance, Rationale and Context (ARC) Process
Minnesota's alternate assessments, the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) and Alternate Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (Alt MCA), are the standards-based accountability assessments designed for, and limited to, students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It is designed to measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Students who receive special education services and meet the eligibility criteria may take the MTAS/Alt MCA. Refer to the Eligibility Requirements and Decision-Making Tool for Minnesota Alternate Assessments for more information.
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, the alternate assessment participation rate in each state may not exceed 1% of all students tested in any subject. Note that this is not a cap on participation at the district or school level. Learn more about the federal regulations, Minnesota’s current participation rates, and what the MDE has done to support districts on the Overview of the One Percent Cap and Alternate Assessment Participation in Minnesota document.
As part of this federal requirement, districts and charter schools received an email from MDE on November 17 regarding the Assurance, Rationale, and Context (ARC) process. The purpose of the ARC process is to provide a communication tool between Minnesota districts and MDE that assures each district is identifying the most appropriate assessment for each student. Special Education Directors, District Assessment Coordinators, Special Education case managers, and other key district staff should be included in conversations about alternate assessment participation, as reflected by the district’s report, to complete the ARC response. Once the district has prepared to answer the questions, one staff person will submit the district’s response by Dec. 12.
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Translated versions of the Parent Fact Sheets for all statewide assessments are posted to the Translated Documents page of MDE’s website. Translations are available for the ten most populous non-English languages in Minnesota (Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese).
The English versions of the Parent Fact Sheets are available on the Academic Standards-Based Assessments and Assessments for English Learners pages of MDE’s website.
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Straggler data (or “late” assessment records) for Reading and Mathematics MTAS assessments have been added to the District and School Student Results (DSR & SSR) and Student Assessment History Report in Assessment Secure Reports. This data comes from tests that were not included or available during Posttest Editing. For MTAS, this is typically due to a district making a late student response entry request after the initial deadline.
There were no straggler records for MCA this year.
Note: Updated DSR/SSR files with straggler data are not provided to the Student Information System (SIS) and data warehouse vendors who received this data from MDE this fall. Districts must provide updated files to their vendors directly, as needed.
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The Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment division is currently seeking an Education Consultant 3 - Science Assessment Specialist to join the Test Development team. This position will provide direction, leadership, coordination, consultation, and program services to school districts and to the Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment to facilitate the development of the statewide assessments and implementation of Minnesota Academic Standards in Science. They will serve as the state expert and primary resource for the Science Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA).
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 90291, and the posting is open until Dec. 1. Visit the State of Minnesota Careers website for more information and to apply.
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Register for the DAC Pearson Basics Training (repeat)
Pearson will provide the DAC Pearson Basics Training to new District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. This virtual training is intended for DACs in their first or second year but is open to experienced DACs as well. The training covers topics not discussed in detail at the New DAC Orientation, including user management, reporting groups, and On-Demand Reports in PearsonAccess Next.
Register for the DAC Pearson Basics Training. MDE will review and approve all registrations prior to the training. Participants need to register at least 24 hours before the training to be approved. Once approved, participants will receive an email with a link to join the meeting. A meeting ID and passcode will also be provided if joining directly from Zoom.
A recorded version of the training will be posted to the Learning Management System (LMS) on Friday, Dec. 19 (DAC catalog > Pearson Trainings tag).
December Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect
The Academic Standards, Instruction, and Assessment Division will host a series of virtual Chat and Connect sessions for MTAS/Alt MCA Test Administrators and special education staff. This will be an informal time for you to ask any questions around alternate assessment, share your feedback, and connect with other special education staff from across the state.
Join us via Zoom for the December session on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 4-5 p.m. Please register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect. In December, participants will learn about the Alt MCA Student Readiness Tools (Alt SRTs), Alt MCA materials & modes of administration and the Alt MCA Assessment Trainings for Test Administrators.
We will be meeting on the second Wednesday of each month during the school year. You only need to register once to join any of the monthly Chat and Connects that work for you. However, when registering for the first time, registration for each session closes 24 hours before the meeting time. The Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect dates for this year are Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, and May 13 at 4 p.m. For more information, contact ALT.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us.
Student Privacy Webinars
In December, the U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO), through its Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), will present a series of webinars:
- Dec. 2, 2-4 p.m.: FERPA 101 and Data Security Best Practices covers the basics of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and provides training on current data security best practices for education data systems.
- Dec. 9, 2-4 p.m.: Transparency and FERPA 201 highlights PTAC’s research on transparency and dives into scenarios that schools and districts face.
- Dec. 11, 2025, 1-2 p.m.: FFAQ: FERPA’s Frequently Asked Questions. Do you have questions? We have answers! This 1-hour webinar will address the most frequently asked questions received by SPPO and PTAC.
- Dec. 16, 2-4 p.m.: Incident Response and Vetting Educational Technology leads participants through a simulated data breach and explores how to assess online educational technology for privacy protections and general FERPA compliance.
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MDE offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Responses to emails and phone calls will be delayed to Monday, Dec. 1.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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