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An update from the Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Vol. 4, No. 7: March 2, 2026
Alternate MCA and Math MTAS Sample Resources
Sample resources for the Reading and Science Alternate MCA and Math MTAS are available on the Alternate MCA Sample Tasks page, which can be accessed from the Student Readiness Tools (SRTs) page on the Minnesota Assessment Hub. These resources are provided to support Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams to become familiar with the format of the tests, make decisions about administration modes for students, and help Test Administrators prepare for test administration. Resources include sample tasks for a variety of grade levels and demonstration videos showing a variety of scenarios and the different modes of administration.
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Invitation for Science Item Writers 2026
MDE is inviting science educators to apply to be part of the Science MCA-IV Item Writer Training in summer 2026. The training will be 4.5 days, with approximately 15-20 additional hours needed to independently complete the writing assignments. The 2026 item writer training will focus on writing engaging grade-level phenomena and questions tied to the 2019 Minnesota Science Standards, with the goal to generate creative thinking and to engage teaching approaches to build a repository of phenomena and questions for the Science MCA-IV.
Schedule and Process Details
Attend required training/workdays:
- June 17 (morning only, virtual)
- July 15-16 (in person, at or near MDE)
- Aug. 4-5 (in person, at or near MDE)
Work independently to complete two phenomenon-based scenarios with 7-8 questions for each phenomenon by Aug. 12.
Benefits for Educators
- Build a robust understanding of and diverse perspectives on the 2019 Science standards.
- Gain insight to the creation of quality assessments that impact 60,000 students per grade.
- Expand creative thinking while developing engaging grade-level phenomena and item ideas.
- Learn skills and practices that support strong classroom assessment.
- Collaborate with science colleagues from across Minnesota.
- Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
- Get paid to participate.
If you are interested in being part of this Science MCA-IV Item Writer Training, please enter your information into MCA Science Item Writer Application by April 26. Selected writers will be contacted the week of May 4. Writers will be chosen based on grade-level and content-area writing needs, as well as experience in developing assessments.
MDE encourages any teachers and educators interested in becoming a science item writer to apply. MDE wants to increase the impact teachers have on our Science MCA-IV assessment and look forward to engaging with more teachers around the state. If you have colleagues who might be interested in participating, please send them this information.
Please contact Science Assessment Specialist Jim Wood (jim.wood@state.mn.us) for more information.
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Educator and Community Member MCA and Alternate MCA Review Committees
MDE is seeking educators and community members to participate in MCA and Alt MCA review committees. Collaboration with educators and community members is a key part of the development of Minnesota statewide assessment test materials.
Committee member groups include:
- Science, Math, and ELA classroom teachers with experience teaching the standards in grades 3-8 and high school
- Special Education Teachers with all licensures, but particularly teachers who work with students with significant cognitive disabilities to review the alternate assessment
- Multilingual learner educators
- Community members
Interested educators and community members can apply to be part of a committee using the registration link. By registering once in the database, individuals indicate interest in being invited to future committees. Each year, invitations are sent out based on expertise in grade level and content areas as committees are formed. Individuals can decline or accept the invitation based on their availability.
Each MCA and Alternate MCA Review Committee meets virtually, typically from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., for two to four days. Most committees occur from June to August, but there are also passage review committees that meet in February. Participants are paid a $160 honorarium per day for participating, or their district or charter will be reimbursed for any substitute costs.
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Performance Level Descriptors Panelist Recruitment
If you are an educator looking for a robust summer learning opportunity, MDE is 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 seeking panelists who will bring a wide range of experience and expertise to the process, representing all students in Minnesota, no matter their ZIP code. Panelists will represent educators/specialists and parents/guardians, 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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2025 Division Annual Report Available
The Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment’s annual report is now available under the Communication expandable header on the Statewide Testing page and under the Stay Informed expandable header on the Academic Standards (K-12) page of MDE’s website.
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March Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect
What: MTAS/Alternate MCA Test Administrators and special education staff are invited to meet with MDE Alternate Assessment Specialists to give feedback, ask questions, and connect with other special education staff from across the state.
Why: Learn about the 2026 MTAS/Alt MCA data entry process and discuss administration questions.
When: March 11, 4-5 p.m. Series will continue monthly, meeting the second Wednesday of each month. Register once to join any of the monthly Chat and Connects. However, when registering for the first time, registration for each session closes 24 hours before the meeting time. The remaining Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect dates for this year are March 11, April 8, and May 13 at 4 p.m.
Where: Via Zoom.
How: Register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect
Contact: Alt.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us
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English Language Arts and Literacy Sessions at Minnesota Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference
What: MDE will be presenting four sessions at the Minnesota Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference related to English Language Arts (ELA) and literacy, including ELA standards, MCA resources, and the READ Act. Topics include:
- Using the MCA Performance Level Descriptors to Help Create Classroom Assessment Rubrics
- What Does the READ Act Mean for Minnesota’s Secondary ELA Educators?
- English Language Arts Standards Bundling Workshop (double session)
- Resources for Finding and Selecting Diverse Texts (informal listening session)
The theme for the two-day conference is “Every Voice,” and keynote speakers and additional breakout sessions will cover topics such as writing, media literacy, diverse books, rural issues, and more. Strands include elementary, middle level, high school, and college-level presentations on a variety of literacy related topics each day.
When: April 30-May 1
Where: Breezy Point Resort, Breezy Point, Minn. (block rates available)
How: Register via the MCTE Spring Conference website. Note: attendees must register both for the conference and reserve hotel accommodations.
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The following are professional learning opportunities from Academic Standards available over the next two months. Refer to the Academic Standards and Assessment Information Packet (2025-26) and content-area pages of the Academic Standards webpage for full event descriptions. Registration for virtual events closes 24 hours in advance.
Content-Area Leader Meetings
Arts
March 4, 9-10:30 a.m. Introduction to Essential Understandings About Native Arts in Minnesota (Virtual) – Register for Arts on March 4
English Language Arts
March 12, 8-9:30 a.m. (Virtual) Register for English Language Arts on March 12
Computer Science
May 4, 3:30-5 p.m. (Virtual) Register for May 4
Gifted Education
April 8, 9-11 a.m. (Virtual) Register for Gifted Education on April 8
Mathematics
Join the Minnesota Math Leaders Group to receive meeting links.
March 12, 7-7:45 a.m. Math Leader Meeting (Virtual)
March 17, 12:30-2 p.m. Math Leader PLC (coaches and specialists) (Virtual)
March 19, 4-5:30 p.m. Math Leader PLC (teachers) (Virtual)
April 9, 7-7:45 a.m. Math Leader Meeting (Virtual)
April 16, 12:30-2 p.m. Math Leader PLC (coaches and specialists) (Virtual)
April 21, 4-5:30 p.m. Math Leader PLC (teachers) (Virtual)
Science
March 12, 10 a.m.-noon (Virtual) Register for Science on March 12
Social Studies
March 25, 7:30-8:30 a.m. (Virtual) Register for March 25
March 26, 9-11 a.m. (In-person) Register for March 26
April 22, 7:30-8:30 a.m. (Virtual) Register for April 22
April 23, 9-11 a.m. (In-person) Register for April 23
Office Hours
Arts
March 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Virtual) Register for March 17
April 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Virtual) Register for April 21
English Language Arts
March 5, 3-4 p.m. (Virtual) Register for March 5
April 2, 3-4 p.m. (Virtual) Register for April 2
Gifted Education
April 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Virtual) Register for Gifted Education on April 8
Health Education
April 7, 7:30-8:30 a.m. (Virtual) Register for April 7
Mathematics
March 4, 4-5 p.m. (Virtual) Register for Mathematics on March 4
April 1, 4-5 p.m. (Virtual) Register for April 1
Science
March 31, 4-5 p.m. (Virtual) Register for March 31
April 28, 4-5 p.m. (Virtual) Register for April 28
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Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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