April 2026 Assessment Updates
The April 2026 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 created 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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MAST Window #3 is open from March 30 through May 22.
MAST Window #3 is open from March 30th through May 22nd. Ensure all students in Grades 3 through 8 are assessed through the Kite Portal.
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Send home the Parent Notification Letter about 2 weeks prior to planned testing.
Watch the MAST checklist tab for related tasks, and the MAST tab on the Stay Informed page for Focused Support Videos..
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DLM ELA/math and DLM Science Windows are Open
Testing windows for DLM ELA/math and for DLM Science are open and run through May 15th. Ensure alternate students are administered the testlets they are eligible for in the Kite Educator Portal.
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- Alternate students in Grades 3 through 8 and 11 must take the DLM ELA/math testlets.
- Alternate students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 must take the DLM Science testlets.
Send home the Parent Notification Letter about 2 weeks prior to planned testing.
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The Montana Science Assessment (MSA) Testing Window is Open
The MSA testing window opened March 2nd and remains open through May 22nd.
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Ensure eligible students in Grades 5 and 8 are administered the MSA during this window in the Montana Testing Portal.
Send home the Parent Notification Letter about 2 weeks prior to planned testing. .
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ACT with Writing Testing Windows
- Window #1: open and closing April 3rd
- Window #2: April 7-17
- Window #3: April 21-May 1
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Administer the assessment to eligible students in Grade 11 during the testing windows. Tests are managed in the PearsonAccessnext portal.
Prior to testing, complete site readiness and the mock administration to ensure the district is ready for test administration. Resources for these tasks can be found under “Step 2: Configuration” on the ACT State and District website.
For schools interested, review the new 2-day ACT testing option.
Send home the Parent Notification Letter about 2 weeks prior to planned testing.
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Enhance Student Test Preparation With MTDA's EdReady Program at No-Cost This Spring! |
The spring MAST and ACT with Writing testing windows are a critical time for Montana students. EdReady Montana offers teaching resources and specialized middle school level MAST math goals and ACT prep math and English goals designed to help students improve their scores and college readiness. With EdReady, you also get the no cost assistance of a dedicated team of Montana educators at MTDA to help set your school, teachers and students up for success!
Don't wait! Reach out to support@mtda.org today to set up an informational meeting and get started!
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Ensure Accurate Enrollments in EDUCATE/IC
To ensure all students are uploaded to the appropriate Test Delivery Portals have the EDUCATE District Clerk/Business Office affirm the enrollments in EDUCATE/Infinite Campus (Student Information System) are accurate and up-to-date.
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See the Infinite Campus Data Collection Schedule for information and resources to complete these tasks. Contact the EDUCATE Help Desk at 1-877-424-6681 OR 406-444-3800 or Submit an AIM Help Desk Ticket with any questions around EDUCATE/Infinite Campus.
Review the home page of the OPI Statewide Assessment home page weekly. On the home page, you'll find three important areas:
- A yellow dropdown titled “Click for a List of Upcoming Events” – open this dropdown for dates and links to attend important training and PD events regarding statewide assessments.
- A yellow dropdown titled “Click for a List of Upcoming STC Deadlines” – open this dropdown to keep up to date with deadlines for your STC tasks.
- A heading titled "STC Checklist". This checklist is updated weekly and will include a list of all the timely tasks for the various assessments with resources to assist you in completing them.
The OPI Assessment Unit continues to add videos to 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 and other statewide assessment recordings.
Direct questions to the OPI Assessment Help Desk at OPIAssessmentHelpDesk@mt.govor 1-844-867-2569
Direct questions to the OPI Assessment Help Desk at OPIAssessmentHelpDesk@mt.gov, or 1-844-867-2569.
Resources for both of these tasks can be found under “Step 2: Configuration” on the ACT State and District website.
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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