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Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), state education agencies are required to publish annual accountability reports for every public school. In North Dakota, these reports are made available through the Insights dashboard and provide a transparent look at how schools are performing on key accountability measures outlined in the state’s ESSA plan.
This year, the release of the accountability reports is delayed from the usual September timeline. North Dakota administered the ND A+ Summative Assessment for the first time in spring 2025 and completed a standard setting process in August 2025. During this process, a committee of North Dakota educators recommended cut scores tailored specifically for North Dakota students.
NDDPI’s data team is currently reviewing and synthesizing accountability data. The updated reports are scheduled for release in early November. Schools will first receive guidance on how to review their data, followed by an update to the Insights dashboard reflecting the most recent results.
For questions, please contact Amanda Peterson at (701) 328-3545.
North Dakota educators participating in the ND A+ Item Review meeting in May 2025 and/or the ND A+ Summative Assessment standard setting process in August 2025 provided valuable feedback that has led to improvements in the ND A+ math assessments—specifically regarding the mathematics reference sheets and calculator availability for grades 6 and 7.
📘 Mathematics Reference Sheets: Updates in Progress
Educators expressed concerns that the current reference sheets:
These misalignments with the North Dakota Content Standards prompted NDDPI to request revisions.
Pearson, the assessment vendor, identified potential psychometric impacts if reference sheets are updated across all items at once. To preserve test reliability and scale stability, the revised reference sheets will be phased in, beginning spring 2026.
🧮 Calculators: Adjustments for Grades 6 and 7
Educators recommended updating calculator tools for students in grades 6 and 7 to align with the scientific calculators currently used in grade 8. NDDPI requested an analysis of this request.
Following a review of the North Dakota mathematics standards, it was determined:
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Grade 6: Transitioning to a scientific calculator would change content expectations. As such, grade 6 students will continue using the five-function calculator and the Desmos four-function calculator.
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Grade 7: A shift to scientific calculators is appropriate and aligns with content expectations. Therefore, grade 7 will transition to scientific calculators, consistent with those used in grade 8.
To avoid unintended effects on test performance data, the implementation of scientific calculators in grade 7 will be phased in—coinciding with the rollout of the revised reference sheets.
These changes reflect North Dakota educators’ ongoing commitment to improving the fairness, accuracy, and instructional alignment of statewide assessments. Thank you to all who contributed their insight and expertise to this important work!
📄 New Instructional Resources
Approximately 300 new Math and ELA Instructional Resources aligned to North Dakota academic standards have been added to the Learning Library!
🎉 Improved Component by DOK Matrix on the Progress Details Page
Navvy has improved the way student performance on a Check is shown in the Component by Depth of Knowledge (DOK) matrix on the Progress Details page. Each item on the student’s Check is represented in its own column, with correct and incorrect answers shown in a clear blue and green color scheme with enhanced visual markers across one or many standards.
🧑🏫 Monitor Class Progress on a Check in Real-Time
Educators can now monitor class progress on a Practice or Competency Check in real-time on the Roster by Standard Report! Each student’s badge will update live to show when they have not yet started the Check, when they are in progress, or what their score is once they have submitted.
Teacher Access to QR codes in LaunchPad
🖥️ Teacher Access to K-5 Student QR codes in LaunchPad
When teachers log in to LaunchPad, they will now see a QR code tile on their homepage. From there, teachers can download QR codes for any K-5 student class rosters they have access to.
Note: Student login by QR code is only supported for students in grades K–5. If you only have access to class rosters for grades 6–12, you may not see any QR code files available for download.
For more details, check the Quick Guide for Navvy Access on the ND A+ Portal.
Ready to Learn More about Navvy?
📍November Community Forum
Join the November Navvy Community Forum to hear some of Navvy’s recent thought leadership, and ideas from other Navvy users around the country!
📅 Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
🕚 11 a.m.–12 p.m. MT / 12–1 p.m. CT
🧠 ND A+ Office Hours: Navvy Competency Check Validity and Reliability
Are you wondering what “Competency” really means in Navvy? Exploring why two students with the exact same score on a Competency Check may not receive the same diagnosis in Navvy? Trying to understand what it really means to offer psychometrically sound formative assessments at the individual standard level?
Join us for ND A+ Office Hours today, Thursday, Oct. 9, as we explore this topic! You may also consider reviewing this white paper by Dr. Laine Bradshaw, Navvy’s founder, explaining Navvy’s innovative three-tiered approach to student learning evidence.
📅 NDCEL Fall Conference
Join us for a hands-on working session during the NDCEL Fall Conference!
🧩 From ND A+ Insights to Action: A Hands-On Working Session
📍 Room 104
🕐 Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 | 1:30–2:20 p.m. CT
🎓 Flexible & FREE Navvy Learning Opportunities!
Part 1: Navvy Essentials
A self-paced, asynchronous course (~2.5 hours) focused on using Navvy checks for understanding.
👉 Click here to register.
Did you miss Part 2: Navvy Extensions?
No worries! Details on how to access the asynchronous version of this learning opportunity will be shared in the November assessment newsletter. If you have immediate questions, please reach out to ndaplus.help@k12.nd.us for support.
🔄 ND A+ Office Hours
Looking to enhance or advance your assessment learning?
Join us for weekly ND A+ Office Hours—your just-in-time community forum for support and collaboration! Explore the ND A+ Professional Learning Calendar for more information.
Who should attend?
Anyone! All North Dakota educators are welcome.
What can I expect?
- The latest tips, tools, and resources
- Open Q&A to address just-in-time needs
- Regular appearances from the ND A+ assessment team, covering all components of the ND A+ assessment system: formative (Navvy), interim, and summative
Did you miss us in September?
We've got you covered! Simply reach out to ndaplus.help@k12.nd.us to request access to the recordings from our Interim and Summative data sessions held last month.
🎉 Upcoming Session Alert!
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Oct. 9: Join Amanda Drahn, Pearson Navvy Success Partner, for a session focused on Navvy check validity and reliability.
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Oct. 16: No session this week due to the NDCEL Conference. The previously scheduled session with Tim Marks has been moved to Oct. 23.
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Oct. 23: Tim Marks, Pearson Product Manager, returns with a session on interpreting reports from the ND A+ Interim Assessments.
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Oct. 30: Amanda Drahn, Pearson Navvy Success Partner, returns for a session focused on exploring Navvy reports and available resources.
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Nov. 6: Amanda Peterson, NDDPI Director of Educational Improvement & Support, joins us for a focused session on the ND A+ assessment system connections to the North Dakota accountability system.
When & Where
🗓 Thursdays, 3–4 p.m. CT
👉 Click here to register.
Need Help Registering or Accessing Office Hours?
📧 Email: ndaplus.help@k12.nd.us
📞 Phone: (701) 552-6183
Did you know...that 224 public schools within 111 public school districts across North Dakota have opted to use the ND A+ Interim Assessments and the ND A+ formative assessment, Navvy, during the 2025-2026 school.
In addition, several private and tribal schools have also chosen to participate.
A full list of participating public school districts can be found under the District Participation accordion on the ND A-PLUS page of NDDPI's website.
Want to better understand the ND A+ (North Dakota Academic Progression of Learning and Understanding of Students) assessment system? A variety of helpful tools and resources are available to support your learning and implementation.
🔹 ND A+ Overview Video Get a quick introduction to the assessment system with a short video available on the ND A+ Portal.
🔹 ND A+ Blueprints Developed with input from North Dakota educators, these blueprints outline:
- The state standards assessed
- Reporting categories
- Distribution of items by reporting category and score points. They guide the design of both ND A+ Summative and ND A+ Interim assessments.
📍 Find them under the Administration Resources tab > Summative Resources on the ND A+ Portal.
🔹 Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) Also created with educator collaboration, ALDs describe what students at each achievement level are expected to know and do, based on North Dakota Content Standards.
📍 Available under Administration Resources > Summative Resources on the ND A+ Portal.
📌 Visit the ND A+ Portal to explore these and other helpful resources.
Monthly assessment newsletters are now conveniently stored in one central location: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/newsletters, under the Assessment Newsletter tab.
Starting with the 2025–2026 school year, newsletters will be available only for the current school year. This fresh-start approach helps keep content timely and relevant.
Be sure to check back regularly so you don’t miss any important updates!
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