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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
April 15, 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
Students who are homebound and receive educational services are expected to participate in statewide assessments. A homebound student who does not participate in statewide assessments should have the appropriate test code indicated based on their circumstances. Refer to pages 254-255 of the Procedures Manual for guidance on testing homebound students.
The Medical Excuse (ME) test code is specific for situations when there is a medical emergency that incapacitates a student in a manner that the school cannot remedy with available accommodations or supports. Further information and the specific criteria for using the ME test code can be found on pages 256-258 of the Procedures Manual. Generally, a homebound student who is receiving educational services does not qualify for a medical excuse. Additionally, a student who is home sick does not qualify for a medical excuse and should be coded as Absent (ABS). In cases with unique circumstances, reach out to mde.testing@state.mn.us to verify the correct code.
For instances where ME requirements are met, MDE strongly recommends districts use the Sample Medical Excuse Documentation Form found in Appendix A of the Procedures Manual. Districts must keep all ME documentation on file for two years after the end of the academic year in which testing took place.
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For the MTAS/Alt MCA, the Task Administration Manual includes the script and instructions to administer the assessment, which must be followed for the administration of all items. The Reading Alt MCA has two types of test administration instructions depending on the item. Most items direct the Test Administrator to “Present Item X located in the Presentation Pages or online test. Read the text aloud and point to each answer option as you read.” Some items direct the Test Administrator to “Go to the paragraph of the passage referenced below, located in the Passages Book or online test. Read the paragraph to the student. Present Item X located in the Presentation Pages or online test. Read the text aloud and point to each answer option as you read.”
MDE has been made aware of some test administrations where the paragraph was not read to the student. These items were designed so that students hear the information in the passage paragraph directly before answering the item to provide more support. Failing to follow these instructions is a misadministration and requires the student’s test to be invalidated. Contact mde.testing@state.mn.us with any questions.
The Paper Reading Alternate MCA Student Readiness Tools (SRTs) are posted on the Student Readiness Tools page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub and includes a Task Administration Manual with examples of both types of items and Test Administrator instructions.
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With the revised WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten administered for the first time in 2025-26, District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) should be aware of important changes regarding how results will be delivered and used this year. Note: WIDA Alternate ACCESS results will not be impacted.
Two Phases of Results
After an assessment is administered for the first time, proficiency level cut scores are established through a process called standard setting. WIDA will conduct the standard setting process this summer for WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten. Final student-level results are typically reported after this process is complete. However, to support timely decision-making and accurate reporting during this transition year, MDE will release WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten student-level results in two phases:
- Initial proficiency level results: These results reflect new scale scores aligned to pre-2026 proficiency levels to support English learner (EL) status reclassification and exit decisions. They will be available in Test WES on May 18 in the early student-level results files and, following Posttest Editing, included in the initial District and School Student Results (DSR/SSR) files.
- Updated proficiency level results: These results reflect newly established proficiency level cut scores for use in future cross-year comparisons. They will be available in updated DSR/SSR files in Test WES after WIDA completes standard setting.
Important: EL status reclassification and exit decisions for the 2025-26 school year must be based on initial proficiency level results. Updated proficiency level results must not be used to revise those decisions.
Reporting Overview
DACs should be aware of the following 2026 reports and their purposes:
- Early student-level results files (May 18): Contain initial proficiency level results.
- Initial District and School Student Results (DSR/SSR) files (Summer): Initial proficiency levels will appear in alternate columns; standard proficiency level columns will be empty. An updated DSR/SSR User Guide will be posted in the summer with additional details.
- Embargoed accountability results (Late summer): Contain the preliminary Progress Toward English Language Proficiency roster.
- Individual Student Reports (Fall): Reflect initial proficiency level results.
- Public Assessment File (named ACCESS2026) (Fall): Posted using initial proficiency level results for public reporting requirements. Data will not appear in the Minnesota Report Card.
- Updated DSR/SSR files (Late fall/winter): Updated proficiency levels will appear in standard columns; initial proficiency levels will remain in alternate columns. Reminder: Updated proficiency levels must not be used to revise EL status reclassification and exit decisions.
- Test Results Summary (Late fall/winter): Available only for updated proficiency level results. Districts should use DSR/SSR files for local aggregations until updated results are released.
- Public Assessment File (named WIDAACCESS) (Late fall/winter): Posted using updated proficiency level results. Data will appear in the Minnesota Report Card.
- Final Accountability Results: Includes the North Star Files and Progress Toward English Language Proficiency on the Minnesota Report Card.
Interpreting and Communicating Results
Keep the following in mind when interpreting results this year:
- Due to changes to the assessment and scoring, 2026 WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten results cannot be compared to prior years.
- Student results in 2026 may be influenced by local implementation timelines and students’ familiarity with revised assessment tasks.
- WIDA results are most meaningful alongside other evidence of learning, including classroom performance, formative assessments, and teacher observations.
DACs should also consider the following actions:
- Plan for local aggregations: Because the Test Results Summary will not be available for initial proficiency level results, districts should be prepared to conduct their own aggregations and analyses using DSR/SSR files.
- Prepare local systems: Local student information systems and data pipelines may not correctly recognize all revised data elements in the 2026 DSR/SSR files. Contact your vendors ahead of results delivery to confirm compatibility and identify any needed updates.
- Maintain local copies of data: While both initial and updated proficiency level results will remain in MDE reporting systems, districts should retain their own student-level data. When students transfer, districts should securely share the results used for EL status reclassification and exit decisions to support continuity of services.
- Plan for communication: Clear messaging will be especially important this year to explain the transition, provide context for results, and reinforce how WIDA assessment data supports instruction and student learning.
Guidance and Support
A guidance document, Using WIDA Assessment Results During the 2026 Transition to New Proficiency Levels, is available on the Minnesota WIDA page and provides comprehensive information to support reporting and decision-making throughout the transition.
Please direct questions by topic area to the email addresses below:
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The Minnesota statewide assessment program relies on input from a range of advisory groups to ensure its continued success and relevance. Each group plays a distinct role in shaping policies, improving practices, and supporting the implementation of high-quality statewide assessments.
The following advisory groups are open to educational professionals across Minnesota who are involved with or support statewide assessments:
- Assessment Accommodations Review Panel (AARP)
- Local Assessment Advisory Committee (LAAC)
- District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Input Group (DIG)
- State Assessment Technology Work Group (SATWG)
For more details about each group, refer to the Statewide Assessment Advisory Groups Overview document posted on the Statewide Testing page of the MDE website, under the “Opportunities for Participation” expandable header. If you are interested in participating in an advisory group, we encourage you to complete the Statewide Assessment Advisory Group Application, posted on the same page. Membership for these groups is reviewed annually.
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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:
- 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.
- 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.
- The student transferred during the testing window. If the student appears correctly 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. When a district submits student enrollment data to MDE, it is loaded into Test WES overnight; it then appears in PearsonAccess Next in 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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The Data Practices and Analytics division is currently seeking a Data Collections Specialist to support data collections for MDE data, including, but not limited to, discipline, course taking, and more detailed racial/ethnic data collections.
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 93146, and the posting is open until April 23. Visit the State of Minnesota Careers website for more information and to apply.
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April Q&A Session: Graduation Requirement Records (repeat)
MDE will host a virtual Q&A session for District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, that will focus on the Graduation Requirement Records (GRR) system and submission process. Register for the April Q&A Session. Please note that registration will close 24 hours in advance of the Q&A session. Details for joining will be provided once registrations are approved.
The prerequisite for the April Q&A session is to complete the GRR Training which is posted in the Learning Management System (LMS) (DAC catalog > MDE DAC Trainings tag). An updated GRR User Guide is now available on the Graduation Requirements (GRR) page, and detailed information on the next GRR submission will be shared in a future edition of the Assessment Update.
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 April DAC Q&A Session. Q&A sessions will not be recorded, nor will CEUs be provided as these are considered additional supports rather than training events.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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