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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
April 1, 2026
Important Dates
March 2-May 1 (May 8 Science MCA only): MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA testing window
April 28 (noon): Deadline to order additional MTAS/Alt MCA (all subjects) and Reading and Math MCA paper test materials in PearsonAccess Next
May 5 (noon): Deadline to order additional Science MCA paper test materials in PearsonAccess Next
Quick Links
The Reading and Science Alt MCA are administered individually to students in a one-on-one setting. Even if a student is able to independently complete the assessment in the online mode, the Test Administrator needs to sit with the student to actively monitor progress, assist with navigation and online tools, and if needed, change to a hybrid or paper administration mode.
In order to receive a valid score, all Alt MCA questions need a response indicated. If the Test Administrator or student inadvertently skips a question on the online form and submits the test during an online administration, the student will receive a Not Complete (NC) test code. In this situation, you cannot unsubmit or reset the test to add a response. Using the Progress Bar in the Test Panel is a quick way for the Test Administrator and student to review responses and ensure a response has been entered for each question before the test is submitted. If a student did not answer a question, the Test Administrator should enter NR (No Response).
Note: If a student is administered an assessment in a paper or hybrid mode with responses indicated on the Data Collection Form and the Test Administrator inadvertently skips an answer during data entry, the test can be reset and the student’s responses can be reentered. However, in an online administration, responses are entered directly into TestNav while the student is testing and are not captured on a Data Collection Form. If an item is skipped during online testing, resetting the test is not possible because there is no record of the student’s responses.
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Data Entry for MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA
Data entry is the process used by district staff to enter student responses for scoring:
- For MCA and Alt MCA, responses from paper test books (MCA) and the Data Collection Forms (Alt MCA, if used) are entered into TestNav.
- For Mathematics MTAS, responses from the Data Collection Form are entered into PearsonAccess Next.
Pearson does not score paper test materials for MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA. Therefore, in order for those tests to be scored, it is the district’s responsibility to enter this data online for scoring. MDE recommends completing data entry as early in the testing windows as possible once testing is complete. All responses must be entered by 7 p.m. on Friday, May 1 (Friday, May 8 for Science MCA) for scoring.
MCA and Alt MCA data entry is done in TestNav during the testing window. For test security purposes, TestNav can only be accessed for entry of student responses during the hours of 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays throughout the testing window. MTAS data entry is done in PearsonAccess Next during the testing window. MTAS data entry is not restricted to the TestNav availability referenced above. Refer to the MCA Data Entry User Guide available on the User Guides page on the Minnesota Assessment Hub, and MTAS and Alt MCA Data Entry and Online Testing User Guide available on the Test Administration Resources page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub.
In order for students to be loaded correctly for data entry, allow enough time for any updates to be made and reflected in PearsonAccess Next. Note: All updates need to be made prior to Thursday, April 30 (May 7 for Science MCA) to be reflected in PearsonAccess Next by the last day of testing.
Any enrollment data updates must be submitted to MDE at least two business days in advance. Once submitted, this data is available the next business day in Test WES for districts to edit (for example, updating test assignments to indicate MTAS/Alt MCA or indicating accommodation codes that require data entry) before it is sent to Pearson. The updated student record will appear the following business day in PearsonAccess Next. Note: Accommodations with paper test materials must be ordered in PearsonAccess Next as an additional order; indicating the code in Test WES does not automatically order those test materials.
If enrollment updates are not required, but other updates are needed (for example, updating test assignments to indicate MTAS/Alt MCA or indicating accommodation codes that require data entry), allow one business day after indication for the updated student record to appear in PearsonAccess Next.
Note: A common irregularity is accommodation codes requiring data entry for MCA not being indicated ahead of time and staff attempting to enter student responses in the incorrect form that do not match the test materials. This requires the DAC to contact Pearson to reset the student’s test.
Students Moving Into or Out of the District During Testing
Districts should attempt to test all students enrolled during the testing window. If a student moves during the testing window and has not tested in their former district, the new district should test the student.
If a student moves to a new district and has not started the MCA or MTAS/Alt MCA, the student’s test eligibility will automatically move to the new district when updated enrollment data is submitted to MDE and sent to Pearson through the precode files. No additional action is needed. However, if a student moves to a new district and the test has already been started or completed, the student’s test will not automatically move. Districts can use the Student Tests Not Associated with the Student Organization operational report in PearsonAccess Next to display student tests that have been started or completed at a different district or school, and to verify if DACs need to contact Pearson to move a started test. Completed tests stay at the district where the student originally tested; results do not move with the student to the new district.
Refer to the MCA Online Testing User Guide, available on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub, for detailed instructions on accessing this operational report. Additional information about students moving during the testing window is found on pages 258-259 of the Procedures Manual.
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Prior to any involvement in test administration, staff must complete all applicable training. This includes training on locally created District Policies and Procedures for Statewide Assessments, completing the Test Security Training, and additional training specific to your role. Further information on training specific to each role for MCA, MTAS, and Alt MCA can be found starting on page 211 of the Procedures Manual. Requirements for documenting training completions can be found starting on page 204.
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With the transition to the Reading Alt MCA this year, the Math MTAS is now the only standards-based accountability assessment that does not require "test sessions" in PearsonAccess Next (PAN). Math MTAS data is still entered directly into PearsonAccess Next, rather than into TestNav like the Reading and Science Alt MCAs.
Instructions on how to assign staff with the MTAS/Alt MCA Test Administrator user role for MTAS data entry and entering MTAS data from the Data Collection Form are found beginning on page 8 of the MTAS and Alt MCA Data Entry and Online Testing User Guide on the Test Administration Resources page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub (under the "MTAS/Alt MCA Administration Resources" header).
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Students must be registered for the correct tests in PearsonAccess Next before they can be added to MCA or Alt MCA online test sessions (including hybrid or paper Alt MCA administration modes), paper MCA data entry test sessions, or assigned for MTAS data entry. If a student is missing from PearsonAccess Next, review the information below.
Precode Student Eligibility
If a student’s test eligibility does not appear in PearsonAccess Next, first verify the student’s information in Test WES under Precode Student Eligibility. Enter the student’s MARSS/SSID number to check on the following possibilities:
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No demographic information appears. This may indicate an issue with the student enrollment record or that student has not been submitted to MDE. Work with your MARSS Coordinator to correct any issues and resubmit student enrollment data.
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The student record is associated with another district or school. Check the first column of the Precode Eligibility table at the bottom of the screen to see which district or school is receiving the student’s precode record. If necessary, manually change where the student will test by selecting “Add” on the student’s information.
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The student transferred during the testing window. If the student accurately appears in Test WES and in sent precode files but does not appear in PearsonAccess Next, run the Student Tests Not Associated with the Student Organization operational report in PearsonAccess Next. This report shows whether the student started or completed a test in their previous district. Instructions for running this report are found in the MCA Online Testing User Guide on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub and the MTAS/Alt MCA Data Entry and Online Testing User Guide on the Test Administration Resources
Note: Manual adds in Test WES override enrollment data submissions.
More information on manually adding students to Test WES can be found in the Test WES Precode User Guide.
Timeline for Updates in PearsonAccess Next
Information for all students enrolled in a district or school is sent each weeknight from Test WES to Pearson in precode files throughout the testing window. Student enrollment data submitted to MDE is loaded into Test WES overnight and appears in PearsonAccess Next within two business days. Updates made directly in Test WES through Pretest Editing (such as, updating student test assignments or assigning or changing universal supports/accommodations) or Precode Student Eligibility (such as, manually adding a student or changing a student’s school) will appear in PearsonAccess Next the following business day.
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MDE requires District and School Assessment Coordinators (or any of their designated, trained staff) to conduct observations of testing rooms to confirm adherence to state and district policies and procedures by Test Administrators, Test Monitors, and other staff. This monitoring is in addition to the active monitoring being done by the Test Administrator/Test Monitor in the testing room and is meant to simulate the site visits conducted by MDE at a district- and school-level. Similar observations can be conducted for other aspects of test administration, like inventorying and organizing secure test materials, distributing test materials on the day of testing, and preparing technology for online testing.
Districts can use the Minnesota Statewide Assessments Monitoring List in Appendix C of the Procedures Manual, or develop their own list as long as it includes all of the components provided in Appendix C. It is up to the district to determine how many schools and testing rooms to observe.
Monitoring of individual administrations (MTAS/Alt MCA) is not required, but districts should consider including them in applicable portions of their monitoring.
To learn more about district monitoring, DACs are advised to review the New DAC Module: Audits and Monitoring training posted to the Learning Management System (LMS) (Test Administration catalog > New DAC Training Series tag).
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MDE Websites Unavailable the Morning of April 9
Multiple MDE websites, including Minnesota Department of Education and Testing 1, 2, 3, will be down for maintenance the morning of April 9. MDE systems like Test WES will still be available; however, you will not be able to navigate to these systems through the MDE website. Please bookmark this link so that you’re still able to access Test WES, and bookmark links to other MDE systems as needed.
Minnesota Report Card Unavailable on April 2
The Minnesota Report Card will be down for maintenance and unavailable beginning at 8 a.m. on April 2. The Report Card will be back and fully operational by April 3 at 8 a.m.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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