May 2024 Assessment Compass Update
The May 2024 OPI Assessment Bulletin has been posted.
The OPI Assessment Bulletin is specifically designed for System Test Coordinators (STCs), subscribers, and any school personnel with a responsibility to administer state assessments. It is carefully crafted each month by the OPI Assessment Unit to provide timely access to key test administration responsibilities and actionable content within each of the program checklists. Also included in each issue are references to the state and federal requirements, resources to support professional learning, testing alerts and updates, and frequently asked questions. School districts are encouraged to share the Assessment Bulletin with any school staff who must be aware of these tasks and responsibilities to prepare for state assessments.
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Final ACT with Writing Testing Opportunities
The final testing window for online ACT with Writing, Window #3, is open until May 3, 2024. Ensure all Grade 11 students in your district who have not yet taken the test are scheduled prior to the window ending to ensure full participation.
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MAST Testing Windows Close May 10, 2024!
Districts participating in the MAST Through-Year assessments, as well as those participating in the MAST Form B Summative assessment, must complete all testing by May 10, 2024.
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The assessments are required for all students in Grades 3 through 8 for participating schools.
In addition to the MAST Assessment, remember to administer the Montana Science Assessment to all Grade 5 and Grade 8 students.
Districts participating in MAST this school year should ensure appropriate staff are aware of the MAST Updates section of the monthly OPI Compass to keep abreast of upcoming tasks for the through-year and Form B assessments.
For more information and resources for MAST Testing, visit the OPI MAST webpage.
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Smarter Balanced (SBA) and Montana Science Assessment (MSA) Windows Closing Soon!
If your district has not completed Smarter Balanced and/or MSA testing, plan to schedule the tests to ensure they are complete prior to the close of the testing windows: May 24, 2024.
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The summative assessments are required for all general education students:
- SBA: Grades 3 through 8 (for schools not participating in MAST)
- MSA: Grades 5 and 8
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Alternate Assessment Testing Windows Closed April 26
We thank school districts for their planning, preparation, training, and overall effort to deliver these state assessments at the local level in compliance with federal and state law.
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- School districts must provide all students with the opportunity to assess when it is safe to do so.
- Schools are required to annually measure the achievement of not less than 95 percent of all students and students in each subgroup on its annual statewide assessments.
The State is required to have 1.0 percent or less overall participation for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in these assessments
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School Districts Must Report Any Test Incidents and Submit Non-Participation Reports No Later than June 7, 2024
Any testing incidents (or irregularities) that occurred during the end-of-year state-required assessment windows must be submitted to the OPI via the MontCAS Application.
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The MontCAS Test Security Manual includes examples of test incidents. Reporting for incidents and non-participation must be completed by June 7, 2024, as cited in the MontCAS Application Test Security Collection Schedule. This ensures a timely state-level results release for the public to see how schools are performing over time and compared to other schools in Montana (see Montana’s longitudinal data warehouse (GEMS)).
The OPI will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, on “Meaningful Score Reports” from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The purpose of this focused webinar is to provide school districts with strategies for delivering score reports and best practices for notice, requirements, and purpose. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
Subscribe to the OPI Assessment Unit’s YouTube Channel to view recorded versions of the monthly webinars, program overviews, and STC Workshop sessions.
Direct questions to the OPI Assessment Help Desk at OPIAssessmentHelpDesk@mt.gov, or 1-844-867-2569.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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