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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Dec. 3, 2025
Important Dates
Dec. 3: Pretest Editing open in Test WES
Dec. 11: Deadline for updating student enrollment data for EL students
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)
Quick Links
The Pretest Editing window for MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA preparation is now open. Pretest Editing is the process during which districts verify and enter information for MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA so that correct student records (with or without the appropriate accommodations and/or universal supports) are sent to Pearson in precode files; the initial shipment of test materials that is sent to districts or schools in February is also generated for MCA paper test materials and MTAS/Alt MCA test materials based on information indicated by Jan. 23.
District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) must also enter important information under the District Options and District Confirmations screens in Test WES. This includes verifying Individual Student Reports (ISRs) from 2025 have been delivered and indicating shipping preferences for test materials.
An updated Pretest Editing User Guide, with step-by-step instructions and screenshots, is posted on the Test WES page of the MDE website, and a recorded training is posted to Learning Management System (LMS) (DAC catalog > MDE DAC Trainings tag). Note: MDE recommends downloading the user guide first to help you follow along while watching the training.
Within the Pretest Editing User Guide, search for “New for 2025-26” to find all changes for this year. Key changes for Pretest Editing include:
- Districts no longer have two options for the delivery date range for the initial shipment of test materials. Feb. 24-26 is the only window for the initial test materials delivery.
- This is the first year of the new Reading MCA-IV and Alternate MCA. With these new assessments, new test names appear throughout Pretest Editing within the reading/math test group. In addition, new accommodations and supports are available and new codes will appear. If your district collects these codes through a specific district or school system, ensure codes are updated and reflect revised information for this year.
- The new Reading MCA has read-aloud accommodations are available for students who meet specific eligibility requirements. This read-aloud support can be provided through a script/human reader (HR) with a paper or online test, text-to-speech in a read-aloud test form (RA), or an assistive technology online form for screen readers (AT-S). These accommodation codes cannot be selected by the DAC for reading. If MDE approves the use of one of these read-aloud accommodations, MDE will indicate the applicable code for the student. Refer to the information below for details on submitting a request for a read-aloud accommodation.
- Districts are not required to document for MDE which accommodations are provided on MTAS; however, the assistive technology online forms for the new Reading Alt MCA and Science Alt MCA require codes to be indicated if students will be using one of these forms.
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Two online forms are now available for districts to submit specific information to MDE to request the following accommodations for students:
- The extended testing of a test domain over multiple days (EM) accommodation for WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS
- Accommodations for any statewide assessment that require MDE approval, including:
MDE staff will review submitted requests within three business days and will follow up directly with the requester. Information on these accommodations and what information will be needed in the request can be found in Chapter 4 of the Procedures Manual and in the Guidance for Universal Supports and Accommodations document.
Note: For both forms, do not include any personally identifying information in the request, such as the student’s name, initials, or birth date. Only include the student’s MARSS/SSID number.
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The WIDA AMS Materials Ordering window is now open and will close on Friday, Dec. 12. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) must enter information by this date to ensure timely delivery of WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS paper test materials before the testing window begins.
For each school, districts must indicate:
- Number of WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten testers
- Number of WIDA Alternate ACCESS testers by grade cluster
- Number of large print and braille scorable test booklets by grade cluster and tier or format
- Number of WIDA ACCESS Paper testers by grade cluster and tier (available only for eligible students, refer to Chapter 8 of the Procedures Manual for more information)
- Number of WIDA ACCESS Online testers by grade cluster (scorable test booklets for grades 1, 2-3, and 4-5 will ship automatically based on online tester counts)
Before completing orders, verify that the shipping address in WIDA AMS is accurate and update it if needed.
For more information on Materials Ordering, refer to:
- Chapter 7 of the Procedures Manual
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WIDA AMS User Guide (available on the WIDA AMS website, no login required to access user guides)
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District and School Test Coordinator Manual (available on the WIDA Secure Portal, login required)
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WIDA ACCESS Online: Administration or WIDA ACCESS Paper: Administration assessment training courses (available on the WIDA Secure Portal, login required)
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Work with your MARSS Coordinator to ensure that all English learners are correctly indicated as EL in student enrollment data (MARSS/Ed-Fi) submitted to MDE by Dec. 11. MDE uses this data to create the precode file for WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS that is sent to DRC. This file loads student information into WIDA AMS for online testing and generates student labels for all scorable test booklets. Note: If your district uses a student information service provider to submit enrollment data, confirm their submission timeline, as it may be earlier than Dec. 11.
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Districts are required to post a comprehensive testing calendar on the district website by Oct. 1. MDE recommends that District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) verify that specific testing schedules by grade and subject are indicated on the calendars by Jan. 1. Minor changes can continue to be made to ensure calendars are accurate, but keep in mind that some districts and schools may not be able to immediately publish updated calendars due to internal policies and procedures. If your district has internal procedures that may require additional time before information can be posted, take that into account when preparing updates.
MDE reviews testing calendars and will communicate directly with the DAC if MDE determines a district’s calendar is not available or is incomplete. Detailed information on the core requirements for district testing calendars can be found in the Procedures Manual starting on page 160.
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Additional MCA and Alt MCA Student Readiness Tools are now available for the 2025-26 school year on the Student Readiness Tools (SRTs) page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub (Minnesota Assessment Hub > Resources & Training > Student Readiness Tools). These comprehensive resources can be used to help prepare students for the MCA (online or paper) or Alt MCA (online, paper, or hybrid administration modes) they will be taking. The following section describes additional features that are now available. Refer to the Oct. 8 Assessment Update for details on the initial SRT updates for 2025-26 earlier this fall.
Note: You may need to refresh the page and/or clear your browser’s cache to see the updated resources on the Minnesota Assessment Hub.
New for 2025-26:
Online SRTs:
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Pencil SRTs: For students taking the Mathematics MCA, a pencil SRT tutorial is now available in grades 3-5, 6-8, and 11 SRTs.
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Reading Script/Human Reader (HR) SRTs: The Reading Script/Human Reader SRT tutorial is now available for grades 3-5 and 6-10 (Online SRTs > Test Supports and Accommodations > Language Supports and Accommodations > Reading page of the online SRTs.)
Alt MCA SRTs:
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Online Alt MCA SRT Overview Video: An updated version of the online Alt MCA SRT Overview video is available detailing functionality for the new Reading Alt MCA.
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Reading Alt MCA SRTs: Online and paper Alt MCA SRTs have been updated to include the Reading Alt MCA.
Note: Educator guides are available for all SRTs. Additionally, supplemental information is provided for online MCA and Alt MCA SRTs, detailing information about all functionalities in TestNav. Both types of resources have been updated to include details on these additional SRTs.
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DAC Test Administration Training: Registration
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.
December Q&A (1): Pretest Editing
MDE will host a Q&A session for new and experienced District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. This session will focus on Pretest Editing.
This Q&A session will be hosted on ZoomGov, and advanced registration is required. Register here for December Q&A Session (1). Please note: All participants must register for the event using their email addresses associated with their school, district, or educational agency. MDE will manually approve all registrations prior to the event. Once registrations are approved, participants will receive a confirmation email with the link to the event. Registration for this event will close on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. Registrations made after that time will not be approved.
The prerequisites for this Q&A are:
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Procedures Manual Chapter 4: Universal Supports and Accommodations for Statewide Assessments
- Recorded Pretest Editing Training, posted to the Learning Management System (LMS) (MDE DAC Trainings tag)
MDE collects questions from DACs prior to the event to help prepare and find relevant resources to share. After reviewing the prerequisites, submit questions for the December Q&A Session (1). Q&A sessions will not be recorded nor will CEUs be provided as they are considered additional supports rather than training events.
December Q&A (2): Test Administration Training
MDE will host a Q&A session for new and experienced District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16. This session will focus on questions from the Test Administration Training.
This Q&A session will be hosted on ZoomGov, and advanced registration is required. Register here for December Q&A Session (2). Please note: All participants must register for the event using their email addresses associated with their school, district, or educational agency. MDE will manually approve all registrations prior to the event. Once registrations are approved, participants will receive a confirmation email with the link to the event. Registration for this event will close on Monday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Registrations made after that time will not be approved.
The prerequisite for the December Q&A Session (2) is completion of the Test Administration Training, either attended virtually or completed in the Learning Management System (LMS). Note: The recorded version of the Test Administration Training will be posted to the LMS Friday, Dec. 12.
MDE collects questions from DACs prior to the event to help prepare and find relevant resources to share. After reviewing the prerequisites, submit questions for the December Q&A Session (2). Q&A sessions will not be recorded nor will CEUs be provided as they are considered additional supports rather than training events.
December WIDA Assessment Webinars
WIDA and DRC will host the following webinars in December:
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Managing WIDA ACCESS Registrations in WIDA AMS, Dec. 2, 1-2 p.m.
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Managing WIDA ACCESS Test Materials in WIDA AMS, Dec. 4, 1-2 p.m.
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WIDA ACCESS Test Security and Test Monitoring, Dec. 9, 1-2 p.m.
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WIDA ACCESS Technology Troubleshooting, Dec. 11, 1-2 p.m.
More information, including webinar links, is available on the Webinars page in the WIDA Secure Portal. Recordings of WIDA assessment webinars are typically posted in the Secure Portal within one week of the live session.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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