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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Jan. 28, 2026
Important Dates
Dec. 3-May 7: Complete Pretest Editing in Test WES
Jan. 5-March 20: Complete administration tasks in WIDA AMS
Jan. 26-March 20: WIDA assessment administration window
Quick Links
The WIDA assessment administration window is now open. Please review these reminders related to test administration.
Verifying EL Status in MARSS
Only students who are identified as English learners (EL) in enrollment data submitted to MDE are eligible to take a WIDA assessment. If a student tests without their EL status indicated in MARSS/Ed-Fi, and their status is not updated by the end of the Posttest Editing window, their test results will be automatically invalidated in June. Once invalidated, these records cannot be reinstated. Work with your MARSS Coordinator to ensure that every student testing has their EL status correctly indicated.
Active Monitoring and Test Environment
Test Administrators must actively monitor students at all times and may not engage in other tasks, such as lesson planning, grading papers, or casual conversation.
Any materials on walls or desks that pertain to direct language instruction or the language expectations of an academic content area must be covered or removed during the test. If you are unsure if a material provides an advantage, cover it.
Avoiding Irregularities (Reminder)
As testing proceeds, keep these details in mind to avoid common errors:
- Verify Test Tickets and Setup: Ensure students are logging in with the correct ticket and are assigned to the correct assessment (WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS) and mode (Online or Paper).
- Writing Response Booklets (Grades 4 and 5): Confirm that students have the correct materials and understand they must write their responses in the booklet while viewing the prompts online.
- New Students and Materials: Add newly enrolled ELs directly to WIDA AMS. If you need more materials for them, please check your district overage before placing a new order.
Please refer to the WIDA Assessment Irregularities 2025-26 document on the Minnesota page of WIDA’s website (third link under “Manuals, Guides and Test Materials”) for a list of common testing irregularities and steps for resolving them.
Support
For help with WIDA AMS, technology, or ordering test materials, contact the DRC help desk at WIDA@datarecognitioncorp.com or 855-787-9615.
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Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) describe what students know and are able to do at each performance level on Minnesota’s statewide assessments for Reading and Science. MDE is recruiting educators to participate in the PLD committee this summer. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of what student performance looks like at different levels of the academic standards. Please share this information with educators who might be interested in developing resources for Minnesota educators as a PLD panelist:
If you are an educator looking for a robust summer learning opportunity, MDE will be seeking participants to engage in-person on the development of the Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) in the following content areas on July 20-22:
- Science for grades K-2
- Chemistry, Physics, and Earth and Space Science strands for grades 9-12
- Expanding PLDs to cover all ELA strands K-12
An application is available to those interested and is now open until March 19. MDE is looking for these panelists to bring a wide range of experience and expertise to the process representing all students in Minnesota, no matter the ZIP code. MDE’s goal is to have individuals who represent educators/specialists and parents, including EC-2, higher education from education department representation, school leaders from primary, intermediate, or secondary levels, early childhood coordinators, and staff including those with experience supporting multilingual learners and students receiving special education services. Please share this application within your schools and community.
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February 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 February session on Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 4-5 p.m. Please register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect. In February we will learn about the 2026 MTAS/Alt MCA updates, planning considerations for MTAS/Alt MCA administrations, and MTAS/Alt MCA Field Audits.
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 Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, and May 13 at 4 p.m. For more information, contact ALT.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us.
PearsonAccess Next for New DACs Training (repeat)
Pearson will provide the PearsonAccess Next for New DACs Training for new District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 1-3 p.m. This virtual training provides a comprehensive overview of PearsonAccess Next for the MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA spring 2026 test administrations. It will cover specific tasks to be done in PearsonAccess Next before and during test administration, as well as functions of the system, including how to view student testing information.
Register for the PearsonAccess Next for New DACs Training. Note: Please register with a district email. 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. If you registered for the training but did not receive an email with the meeting link, check your spam or junk email folders. If you did not receive a meeting link, contact Pearson customer support. 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, Feb. 20 (DAC catalog > Pearson Trainings tag).
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DRC System Status Webpage
The DRC System Status webpage provides real-time updates on operations of WIDA AMS, INSIGHT, and Educator Scoring.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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