June 2025 Assessment Compass Update
The June 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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Announcing New Alternate Statewide Assessments for 2025-2026 School Year
Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, the Dynamic Learning Map (DLM) will replace both the Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) and the Alternate Montana Science Assessment (AMSA).
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All alternate assessments will now be administered on the Kite platform to align with the administration of MAST.
The DLM math and ELA assessments follow an instructionally embedded model, with multiple testlets administered during both fall and spring testing windows. Science assessments will also consist of multiple testlets but will be administered only during the spring window.
Stay up to date by visiting the page for announcements, including an upcoming June webinar and the release of the 2025–2026 DLM testing windows.
Additional training will be provided this fall, including sessions during the STC Workshop Series in September. For more information, visit the and explore the
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Statewide Assessment Windows are Now Closed!
We thank school districts for their planning, preparation, training, and overall effort to deliver these statewide assessments at the local level in compliance with federal and state law.
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School districts are required to provide parents/guardians with individual student reports no later than fall Parent Teacher Conferences. Score reports for the statewide assessments are available within the timelines noted below.
Templates for letters to include with the reports home can be found on the Parent Corner page of the State Testing pages of the OPI website.
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ACCESS for ELLs
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Available now on the WIDA AMS site; and have been delivered to districts.
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Multi State Alternate Assessment
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Available on the MSAA System from July 14 through September 5, 2025.
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Alternate Montana Science Assessment
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Available on the Montana Testing Portal 10 days after being submitted by students.
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ACT with Writing
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Available on the ACT Success site within 5 to 8 weeks of the test being submitted by students; also delivered to districts on this same timeline.
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Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year Assessment
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All 2024-2025 student testlet score reports are now available in the Kite Educator Portal. Use the Parent Portal One Pager for instructions on disseminating score reports to families.
Through-year reports with full-year proficiency levels will be released in Fall 2025 after standard setting has occurred.
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Montana Science Assessment
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Available on the Montana Testing Portal 10 days after being submitted by students.
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*The score reports in the assessment portals are considered final reports unless a testing incident that may affect the score report has been submitted.
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School Districts Must Report Any Test Incidents and Submit Non-Participation Reports No Later than June 10, 2025 |
Any testing incidents (or irregularities) that occurred during the end-of-year statewide assessment windows must be submitted to the OPI via the MontCAS Application. The MontCAS Test Security Manual includes examples of test incidents.
Reporting for incidents and non-participation must be completed by June 10, 2025. 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)).
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Opportunity to Provide Feedback
The OPI Assessment Unit encourages System Test Coordinators (STCs) to share their feedback to assist the OPI Assessment Unit in enhancing the MontCAS program for future years.
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STCs who have not already done so can complete the 2024-2025 STC MontCAS Debrief Form before July 1, 2025. Not only does the form provide feedback, but STCs can receive professional development units for their statewide assessment related work over this past school year.
Resources for both of these tasks can be found under “Step 2: Configuration” on the ACT State and District website.
New for the 2024-2025 school year, the OPI Assessment Unit has introduced the Focused Support Video Series. See the Stay Informed page of the OPI Statewide Testing webpages 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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