 March 2026 - Vol. 5
 As we move into the spring of the school year, we are grateful for the continued dedication and partnership of educators across Montana who have engaged deeply in the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) assessment.
MAST is, by design, an iterative and responsive system - though some refinements do take time! The strength of this work lies in the ongoing collaboration with hundreds, if not thousands, of educators who have shared thoughtful feedback, insights, and expertise throughout implementation (way back to 2022!). This collective input has been instrumental in refining both the assessment experience, professional learning, and the reporting tools to better support teaching and learning.
We are excited for the launch of Interactive Reporting next week! Our Assessment Implementation Committee members and their schools have been piloting the platform and have already provided valuable feedback that we have shared and emphasized with the assessment vendor. While it is not in a perfect state yet, it is one step closer to providing quick and meaningful data to support your students.
Of note, you will now have access to student testlet reports the Monday at noon after test administration! Remember, you do not need to wait until the end of the assessment window to administer testlets. Do so when your students are ready and then you're able to move on with student learning, with more information for your teaching.
Interactive Reporting Resources
To support implementation, a live training will be held Monday, March 30, from 3:30–4:30 PM to walk through how to access and navigate the platform.
We remain committed to this continuous improvement process and are deeply appreciative of the time, reflection, and professionalism educators bring to this work. This partnership ensures that MAST continues to evolve as a high-quality, meaningful assessment aligned to Montana’s standards and to the shared vision of supporting student outcomes.
- Marie Judisch, Senior Manager of Academic Outcomes & Instruction
- OPI Assessment & Standards, Instruction, and Professional Learning Teams
Montana’s Voices, Montana’s Vision
We have welcomed feedback since the beginning of piloting in 2022! Please don't hesitate to share constructive feedback so that this assessment can better support you in your role.
Have something to share? Feedback or stories of success? 👉 Tell us here!
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Understanding & Using Progress Reports
Progress Reports for Window 2 will be posted on the KITE portal on April 2nd. We want to ensure that you understand what these reports do and do not tell you.
They ARE:
- An early indicator of progress toward grade-level proficiency, identifying a student's risk of not meeting end-of-year proficiency
- A summary of performance across completed testlets
- One data point to be used alongside classroom evidence
They are NOT:
- A final or predictive score
- A replacement for teacher judgment or classroom data
So if you hear out there, "Only 5% of students are proficient in math in 3rd grade," that is not what these reports are telling us. They are telling us that, at a very high confidence level (95% confidence level), that 5% of students will be proficient.
We would be MORE than happy to help any individual or school better understand these reports and how they can support student learning.
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Progress Reports Resources:
Instructional Strategies that Work
ELA Essentials: High-Impact Instructional Strategies
📝 Featured Resources: For additional support, you might provide students with a graphic organizer for completing the main ideas and details within a linear outline, such as this example from The Writing Revolution. For more information on preparing students for the MAST Performance Task, and to earn 3 PDUs, check out the new Learning Hub course: Preparing Students for the MAST Performance Task.
💡Strategy Spotlight: The Linear Outline
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Click to access short instructional support video!
Math Matters: High-Impact Instructional Strategies
🧮Featured Resource:Small Number Counts:This free resource offers a bank of classroom-ready stories and lesson plans that integrate IEFA in mathematics. These stories come with translations in a multitude of languages, making them accessible to linguistically and hearing diverse students.
💡Strategy Spotlight: Small Number Counts
Click to access short instructional support video!
Professional Learning & Engagement Opportunities
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Click image to access embedded links
MAST Teacher Leader Cohort
The Montana Office of Public Instruction is seeking educators interested in participating in an MAST ELA and Math Teacher Leader Cohort focused on strengthening instruction aligned to Montana Content Standards and the Montana Academic Standards Test (MAST). This cohort will commence working together in the Spring of 2026 and continue through the 2026-2027 School year.
The Teacher Leader Cohort is a select group of 3rd-8th Grade Montana educators who will engage in advanced professional learning to support effective, data-driven instructional practices aligned with MAST and Montana content standards. The cohort is designed to build instructional leadership capacity and create a sustainable network of educators who can model, support, and facilitate high-quality professional learning across the state.
Interested in joining? Please complete our Interest Survey to receive ongoing information as we work toward establishing this cohort of Teacher Leaders! This link is live until April 6th! Those interested will receive a follow up email for the formal application to participate.
Leadership Lens:
Quick tips to support teachers with MAST:
Did you know that we have had interpretive guides for all levels of reporting on the MAST portal all school year? Need help sharing information with your school board and supporting your teachers as the instructional leader? Don't miss the following interpretive guides and support resources below! Anything missing? Let us know! We are here to help!
Need more one-on-one support? Schedule a MAST Mini-Session with the Team HERE.
Performance Level Report Resources
Progress Report Resources
Through-Year Report Resources
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Parent Connection:
Don't forget! Parents should receive their child’s testlet reports after each administration, either by printing them or through the Kite Parent Portal. Sharing this MAST Parent One-Pager helps families understand the assessment. Don’t forget, students should see their own reports too!
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New to MAST? We've got you!
We know that there is so much to learn and understand about Montana's statewide assessment, and we don't want it to be a mystery. So where do you start?
- Review the MAST Educator Slides - these take you from the beginning to know what to expect, through the assessment blueprints, student accommodations, preparing for assessments, data chats, and more.
- Bookmark the MAST PORTAL. Teacher resources, support videos, and more can all be found here.
- Save the Educator Resources Page! Easy access to resources!
- Ask Questions! We're here to help! OPIAssessmentHelpDesk@mt.gov
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Stay Connected & Share your Story!
Got a question or success story to share? Want something covered in the next Memo? Tell us here!
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Become a part of MAST Science—a new, Montana-grown through-year science assessment. Pilot testlets, share feedback, and help build a system that supports powerful classroom learning in grades 6–8. Learn more at the pilot webpage!
Quick Links:
Direct questions to the OPI Assessment Help Desk at OPIAssessmentHelpDesk@mt.gov, or 1-844-867-2569.
Instructional Questions? Email content specialists at OPICSI@mt.gov
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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