Minnesota to Pilot New Kindergarten Assessment This Fall
Pilot will provide 45 districts and charters opportunity to inform the statewide implementation in 2027
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) announced that 70 schools from 45 districts and charter schools will partner with MDE this fall to pilot the Minnesota Kindergarten Fall Assessment (MnKFA), an observation-based approach designed to be embedded in everyday classroom experiences, such as communication, problem-solving, and play.
The pilot reflects the Walz-Flanagan Administration’s commitment to investing in education and making Minnesota the best state for kids by helping educators gather information to better meet the needs of all students as they transition to kindergarten.
The MnKFA is not a readiness or skills accountability test because kindergarten eligibility is based on age not skill.
"Our students deserve to experience success at every stage of their learning journey. By focusing on our youngest learners' strengths as they transition to kindergarten, educators can shape daily classroom experiences and environments that support every child's unique needs," said Early Learning Director Danielle Hayden.
Information collected through the MnKFA will help schools and districts better prepare to meet the unique educational needs of each kindergartener. This approach will help guide important conversations around kindergarteners’ learning and development to support classroom instruction, inform local decisions that impact young learners, and contribute to a broader statewide understanding of young learners.
The schools participating in the MnKFA pilot will also help MDE refine the training, resources, and supports for the assessment and strengthen the implementation process prior to all Minnesota kindergarteners being assessed in fall 2027.
MDE, in partnership with Teaching Strategies, LLC, will provide participating districts and charter schools with training, technical assistance, and opportunities to share input.
Fall 2026 MnKFA Pilot Participants
Districts
- Alexandria Public School District
- Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools
- Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian Public School District
- Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Public Schools
- Duluth Public Schools
- Eastern Carver County Public Schools
- Eden Prairie Public School District
- Faribault Public School District
- Fergus Falls Public School District
- Glencoe-Silver Lake School District
- Hayfield Public School District
- Hill City Public School District
- Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public School District
- Kelliher Public School District
- Kittson Central School District
- Lakeville Area Schools
- Martin County West School District
- Minnesota State Academies
- Moorhead Area Public School District
- Mounds View Public School District
- Northland Community Schools
- Osseo Public School District
- Owatonna Public Schools
- Pine City Public School District
- Pine Island Public School District
- Proctor Public School District
- RTR Public Schools
- Sleepy Eye Public School District
- Tri-City United School District
- Triton School District
- Underwood Public School District
- Waconia Public School District
- Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Schools
- West Saint Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools
Charter Schools
- Aspen Academy
- Cornerstone Montessori Elementary
- FIT Academy
- Global Academy
- Harvest Best Academy
- Hmong College Prep Academy
- Hope Community Academy
- Kaleidoscope Charter School
- Oak Hill Montessori Community School
- Swan River Montessori Charter School
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