February 2025 Assessment Compass Update
The February 2025 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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Share Your Input on MAST
Please let us know how MAST is helping you in your classroom! The OPI and testing partner New Meridian are looking for educators to share their experience with administering MAST and its usefulness for helping provide timely and relevant feedback to students.
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Use the Questionnaire Interest Link to be considered for participation in this opportunity. Once interest questionnaires are submitted, if selected, teachers will be contacted by New Meridian to participate and will be compensated $30 for completion of a 30-minute questionnaire with opportunities for additional follow-up interviews.
Please note that questionnaire responses are for research purposes only and will not be used to evaluate the performance of individual teachers, schools, or students. Thank you for helping us to validate and improve the MAST assessment!
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ACCESS for ELLs Test Window Closes February 21, 2025
The test window for the ACCESS for ELLs, Montana’s English language proficiency assessment, opened on December 2, 2024, and closes on February 21, 2025. Ensure all of your district's EL students are administered the ACCESS for ELLs during this window. The federal expectation for ACCESS for ELLs completion is 100%.
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Join us for MAST Standard Setting!
Montana educators are invited to participate in Standard Setting for the MAST assessment in the Summer 2025.
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In collaboration with other subject matter experts, Montana educators will help draft and refine performance-level descriptors to ensure these descriptors accurately reflect the competencies students must demonstrate at each performance level. Express initial interest by filling out the linked MAST Standard Setting Recruitment Form.
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Ensure IEP and 504 Plans are Locked in Infinite Campus
The ACCESS for ELLs assessment window and MAST Window #2 are currently open, and other state assessment test windows will be opening soon. The full suite of MontCAS state assessment testing windows is available on the Montana OPI Published Test Windows document.
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To ensure smooth and successful assessment administrations:
- ensure your schools have state assessments noted on school and district calendars,
- check to be sure that all IEP and 504 Plans have been locked after editing to ensure all students receive the accommodations and/or supports they are entitled to,
- provide the opportunity for all students to become familiar with the assessment environment,
- send parent notification letters to parents/families to alert them of upcoming assessments.
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Complete Site Readiness and Mock Administration in Preparation for the ACT with Writing.
Schools administering the ACT with Writing during Window #1 should complete site readiness and the mock administration to ensure the district is ready for test administration.
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Resources for both of these tasks can be found under “Step 2: Configuration” on the ACT State and District website.
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Plan and Prepare for the 2024-2025 Testing Calendars
Place the OPI Published Test Windows on school calendars for this year
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- MAST: Window 1 [Oct. 14-Nov. 22, 2024], Window 2 [Jan. 13-Feb. 21, 2025], Window 3 [Mar. 24-May2, 2025], Window 4 (Anchor Only) [May 5-May 23, 2025].
- ACCESS for ELLs: Dec. 2, 2024 – Feb. 21, 2025
- Montana Science Assessment: Mar.3-May 23, 2025
- Multi-State Alternate: Mar. 10 – Apr. 25, 2025
- Alternate Science: Mar. 10 – Apr. 25, 2025
- ACT with Writing: Window 1 [Mar. 25-Apr 4, 2025], Window 2 [Apr. 8-18, 2025], and Window 3 [Apr. 22- May 2, 2025].
The OPI will publish any changes to the test windows on the Published Test Windows.
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Ensure Accurate Enrollments in AIM
To ensure all students are uploaded to the appropriate Test Delivery Portals have the AIM District Clerk/Business Office affirm the enrollments in AIM/Infinite Campus (Student Information System) are accurate and up-to-date. See the AIM Data Collection Schedule for information and resources to complete these tasks. Contact the AIM Help Desk at 1-877-424-6681 OR 406-444-3800 or Submit an AIM Help Desk Ticket with any questions on AIM/Infinite Campus.
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New for the 2024-2025 school year, the OPI Assessment Unit is introducing monthly Open Office Hours and the Focused Support Video Series. See the Stay Informed page of the OPI Statewide Testing webpages for scheduling and links to attend office hours, and to view Focused Support Videos.
Subscribe to the OPI Assessment Unit’s YouTube Channel to view recorded webinars, support videos, 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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