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An update from the Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Vol. 4, No. 9: May 4, 2026
Navigating the 2026 WIDA Transition: What Educators Need to Know
Minnesota reached full implementation of the updated WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition this school year. As a result, the English language proficiency accountability assessments have been revised to align with these standards. WIDA Alternate ACCESS was first administered in the 2023-24 school year, and WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten were first administered in the 2025-26 school year.
What to Expect This Year
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. To support timely decision-making and accurate reporting, results will be released in two phases this year:
- 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 early student-level results files in Test WES on May 18. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) have access to Test WES and may download and share student results in accordance with district policy.
- Updated proficiency level results: These results reflect newly established proficiency level cut scores for use in future cross-year comparisons. They will be available after WIDA conducts standard setting this summer.
Important: EL status reclassification and exit decisions for the 2025-26 school year must be based on the initial proficiency level results. Updated proficiency level results reported after standard setting must not be used to revise those decisions.
Interpreting and Communicating Results
Keep the following in mind when interpreting results:
- Because of 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 student familiarity with revised assessment tasks.
- WIDA results are most meaningful alongside other evidence of learning, including classroom performance, formative assessments, and teacher observations.
Districts are encouraged to plan how they will communicate results with educators, families, and community members. It will be especially important this year to use clear messaging to explain the transition, provide context for results, and reinforce how WIDA assessment data supports instruction and student learning.
Looking Ahead
MDE will begin updating the definitions of proficiency and exit criteria for WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten during the 2026-27 school year. Any revisions will apply to assessment results beginning in 2027 and will not affect decisions made this year.
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 (wida.wisc.edu > About > WIDA Consortium > Minnesota) 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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Employment Opportunities at MDE
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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Invitation to Participate in the Minnesota Kindergarten Fall Assessment Pilot
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 provides 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 some or all 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 teachers and educators, including special education and English learner teachers and others who regularly provide instruction, services, and supports to kindergartners
- School principal(s)
- DACs
- 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 or with questions.
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Physical Education Standards Review and Revision
In accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 120B.021, subdivision 4, the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Physical Education are revised every 10 years. The last time the Physical Education standards were revised was in the 2017-18 school year. The next time they will be revised is in the upcoming 2026-27 school year. To be notified via email of the committee application, public comment periods, and other related Physical Education standards review and revision updates, sign up for the Physical Education Standards Review and Revision Mailing List.
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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: 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.
When: May 13, 4-5 p.m. Registration for each session closes 24 hours before the meeting time. This is the last Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect date for this year.
Where: Via Zoom.
How: Register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect
Contact: Alt.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us
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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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Last Curriculum Leaders Meetings
What: MDE will be hosting its final Curriculum Leaders Virtual Sessions for school year 2025-26 on May 12 at 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. New and experienced Curriculum Leaders may attend either session, as the same information will be provided at each session. The sessions are not recorded and CEUs will not be provided as these sessions are additional support rather than a training. Note: It is important to register 24 hours in advance of the Curriculum Leaders meetings to ensure you receive the access code to enter the meeting.
When: May 12, (Bonus READ Act: 8:30-9 a.m. and 3:30-4 p.m.)
How:
To review past presentations, MDE’s Academic Standards (K-12) page features presentations from past meetings, including the most recent one.
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Free Native Arts Institute & Cohort
What: The Native Arts Institute & Cohort supports K-12 arts educators to design meaningful and authentic learning experiences about Dakota and Ojibwe arts, learning with Iyekiyapiwiƞ Darlene St. Clair; artists, makers, and performers from Tribal Nations in Minnesota; and MDE arts specialists.
Who: K-12 Arts Educators
When: The cohort kicks off with a three-day summer institute Aug. 4-6, location TBD.
How: Please visit MDE’s Arts Standards page under the heading “Professional Learning and Upcoming Events” for more details and registration information. Participants can be reimbursed for mileage. Participants traveling further than 50 miles will also be eligible for a hotel. Substitute teacher costs can be reimbursed if needed.
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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
English Language Arts
May 21, 8-9:30 a.m. (virtual) – Register for May 21
Computer Science
May 4, 3:30-5 p.m. (virtual) – Register for May 4
Gifted Education
May 28, 11 a.m.-noon (virtual) – Register for May 28
Mathematics
Join the Minnesota Math Leaders Group to receive meeting links.
May 14, 7-7:45 a.m. (virtual) – Math Leader Meeting
May 19, 12:30-2 p.m. (virtual) – Math Leader PLC (coaches and specialists)
May 21, 4-5:30 p.m. (virtual) – Math Leader PLC (teachers)
Science
May 28, 10 a.m.-noon (virtual) – Register for May 28
Social Studies
May 20, 7:30-8:30 a.m. (virtual) – Register for May 20
Office Hours
Arts
May 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (virtual) – Register for May 19
English Language Arts
May 7, 3-4 p.m. (virtual) – Register for May 7
Gifted Education
May 13, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (virtual) – Register for May 13
Mathematics
May 6, 4-5 p.m. (virtual) – Register for May 6
June 3, 4-5 p.m. (virtual) – Register for June 3
Science
May 26, 4-5 p.m. (virtual) – Register for May 26
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Division of Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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