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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
April 29, 2026
Important Dates
March 2-May 1 (May 8 Science MCA only): MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA testing window
May 5 (noon): Deadline to order additional Science MCA paper test materials in PearsonAccess Next
May 11: Deadline to return secure test materials to Pearson
May 18-June 5: Posttest Editing in Test WES
May 18: Begin retrieving early WIDA assessment results in Test WES
Quick Links
Reading and Mathematics MCA; All MTAS/Alt MCA Subjects
Online Testing and Data Entry Deadlines
Friday, May 1, is the last day of the testing window for Reading and Math MCA and all MTAS/Alt MCA subjects. Pearson does not score any paper test materials, so districts must ensure all student responses for MCA data entry and MTAS data are entered online in order to be scored.
Districts must enter universal support and accommodation codes or change test assignments from MCA to MTAS or Alt MCA in Test WES by Thursday, April 30, in order for the updates to appear in PearsonAccess Next by the last day of the testing window.
Reading and Math MCA
- All Reading and Math MCA online testing must be completed by 5 p.m. on May 1.
- All student responses from Reading and Math MCA paper test books must be entered in TestNav by 7 p.m. on May 1.
- Test codes (such as student or parent/guardian refusals) for all MCA subjects can be indicated in PearsonAccess Next until 7 p.m. on May 8.
Math MTAS and Reading and Science Alt MCA
- Data for Math MTAS must be entered in PearsonAccess Next by 7 p.m. on May 1.
- Student responses for Reading and Science Alt MCA must be entered in TestNav by 7 p.m. on May 1.
- Test codes (such as student or parent/guardian refusals) for MTAS/Alt MCA must be indicated in PearsonAccess Next by 7 p.m. on May 1.
- Learner Characteristic Inventory (LCI) responses must be entered in PearsonAccess Next by 7 p.m. on May 1. Note: The LCI is required for all students completing the MTAS/Alt MCA.
MTAS Data Entry Reminders
If a student’s Math MTAS scores have been entered into PearsonAccess Next, but the student does not have an On-Demand Report, confirm that the test has been submitted. Generate MTAS data entry reports in PearsonAccess Next to find tests not submitted. The District Status Report displays the data entry status of each student’s MTAS assignment. Tests listed as “In Progress” have one or more responses saved but have not been submitted, while tests listed as “Completed” have had all responses entered but have not been submitted. For more information on generating MTAS data entry reports in PearsonAccess Next, refer to the MTAS/Alt MCA Data Entry and Online Testing User Guide on the Test Administration Resources page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub.
If a student’s Math MTAS On-Demand Report has a Not Complete (NC) code, it means that not all data was entered for that student’s test. If the data was entered incorrectly, contact the Pearson help desk at 888-817‐8659 to reset the test. Refer to the MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA Irregularities document on the Policies and Procedures page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub for more details.
For Reading and Science Alt MCA, as well as Math MTAS, the “Students with Test Assignments but have not Completed” operational report in PearsonAccess Next (Reports > Operational Reports > Students & Registrations) lists all students that have a test assigned to them, but the test has not yet been completed. Consider downloading this report before the end of testing to confirm any student that has completed testing is not on this list.
Science MCA Online Testing and Data Entry Deadlines
- The Science MCA testing window will close on May 8. All online testing for Science MCA must be completed by 5 p.m.
- All student responses from Science MCA paper test books must be entered in TestNav by 7 p.m. on May 8.
- If test codes are needed for a High School Science MCA, they must be entered in PearsonAccess Next by 7 p.m. on May 8, as it is not possible to create a blank High School Science MCA and code it in Posttest Editing.
- Test codes (such as student or parent/guardian refusals) for all MCA subjects can be indicated in PearsonAccess Next until 7 p.m. on May 8.
- As indicated above, May 1 is the last day to enter Science Alt MCA responses in TestNav.
Manually Adding Students and Updating Information in Test WES for the Science MCA
Thursday, May 7 is the last day to manually add students in Test WES. It is also the final day to change the send indicator for high school Science MCA and to indicate universal support and accommodation codes for the Science MCA in Test WES.
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Secure test materials must be returned to Pearson via UPS after the tests are administered and student responses and MTAS/Alt MCA data are entered online. These secure test materials do not need to be held until the end of the testing window if testing is complete. Note that MTAS/Alt MCA LCI and Data Collection Forms must stay on file at the district for one year.
To ensure materials are received by the deadline, work with your schools to confirm that all materials are returned in a timely manner. Depending on your process, materials at schools may be sent to the district for return or directly to Pearson. All materials must be shipped no later than May 11.
For more information, access the Returning Secure Test Materials document on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub. For questions, contact the Pearson help desk at 888-817-8659 or submit a Pearson help desk request online.
Note: Pearson does not score any paper test materials. Ensure all MTAS/Alt MCA data and student responses from paper MCA test books have been entered in TestNav or PearsonAccess Next before shipping back the materials.
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The deadline for indicating district confirmations in Test WES is May 7. Use the District Confirmations page in Test WES to confirm the following statements:
- All staff involved with statewide testing have completed required trainings prior to test administration, including the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC).
- All students in the district indicated to take the MTAS/Alt MCA and/or WIDA Alternate ACCESS will meet all eligibility requirements at the time of testing.
- All policies and procedures were followed to ensure that students receive the supports and/or accommodations they require.
Also, by May 7, use the District Options page in Test WES to indicate the following options for the final reports shipment for MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA:
- Whether your district wants to receive student results labels with the final Individual Student Reports (ISR) shipment. If selected, student results labels for every student tested are shipped to the district with final reports. These labels can be used on student permanent hard-copy files. The default option is set to not send results labels; districts must change the selection to receive the labels.
- Districts must also indicate whether they would like to receive paper copies of ISRs to distribute to families in the fall or if districts will provide families with electronic copies of ISRs from PearsonAccess Next. The default option is set to receive paper copies of ISRs.
Note: It is not possible to order MCA/MTAS/Alt MCA adhesive student results labels or paper copies of ISRs after May 7; however, they will be available for districts to print in Published Reports in PearsonAccess Next.
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Test security violations must be reported to MDE using the Assessment Security Records (ASR) system in Test WES. Districts with test security concerns should always contact mde.testing@state.mn.us within one business day of the incident to request guidance on whether the concern is a violation that needs to be submitted as an ASR.
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The Minnesota Kindergarten Fall Assessment (MnKFA) is a new statewide, observation-based assessment using 16 items from the Teaching Strategies GOLD integrated into daily classroom routines. The MnKFA uses an asset-based approach to understand each child’s development across four domains: Social and Emotional Development; Approaches to Learning; Language, Literacy and Communications; and Mathematics. The MnKFA is not an accountability or kindergarten readiness test as kindergarten eligibility is based on age.
A pilot program will be conducted in fall 2026, and it will provide districts with an opportunity to influence and improve the MnKFA’s online system, training, and resources ahead of statewide implementation in fall 2027. Participation is flexible and may include some or all kindergarten teachers and/or all or some students in a classroom.
Participating teams will learn how to administer the assessment, use the MnKFA platform, and provide feedback via surveys and focus groups. Other staff will learn how to set up the MnKFA (for example, assigning accounts and rostering students). To participate in the pilot, teams must include:
- Kindergarten teacher(s)/educator(s) – including special education and English learner teachers and others who regularly provide instruction, services, and supports to kindergartners
- School principal(s)
- District Assessment Coordinator (DAC)
- Director of Teaching and Learning or similar role
Benefits of participating in the pilot include individualized support, opportunities to shape MnKFA resources, stipends for educator participation outside of contract hours, and contributing to a smooth statewide rollout. For more information about the MnKFA Pilot, read the two-page overview or visit the MnKFA page on the MDE website. Contact mnkfa.mde@state.mn.us to join.
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MDE’s Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment Division is hiring two positions on the Test Development team, a Science Assessment Specialist and a Reading Assessment Specialist. These positions serve as the state experts and primary resources for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in science or reading respectively. These positions provide direction, leadership, coordination, consultation, and professional development to school districts and to the division to facilitate the development of the statewide assessments and implementation of state academic standards.
The application period for both assessment positions is May 1-15.
- Science Assessment Specialist: View this posting and apply at the Minnesota Careers website. Go to External Applicant Portal and search for Job ID 93245.
- Reading Assessment Specialist: View this posting and apply at the Minnesota Careers website. Go to External Applicant Portal and search for Job ID 93268.
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May 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 this session on Wednesday, May 13 from 4-5 p.m. Please register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect. In May we will discuss feedback from the Reading and Science Alt MCA 2026 test administration, learn about Reading and Science Alt MCA Individual Student Reports (ISRs), and share some spring 2027 MTAS/Alt MCA administration highlights.
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. This is the last Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect date for this year. For more information, contact ALT.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us.
2026-27 Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect Series
The Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect series will begin again in October, meeting on the second Wednesday of each month (except November) from 4-5 p.m. The 2026-27 dates are Oct. 14, Nov. 12, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12.
Register now for the entire series.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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