- St. Michael-Albertville Schools
- Assessment Overview
Assessments Overview
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Standardized Assessments are tests that are given outside of the curriculum and instruction process. They are typically purchased from a test vendor and provide normative comparisons at the national or state level. The timing of the administration of assessments is more closely related to the school year calendar and program decision-making timelines, than to the pacing of the curriculum and instruction in the classroom. They are used to measure student progress toward meeting grade-level standards, predict performance on state accountability tests, triangulate data for program decisions, screen students for remediation or enrichment, and identify relative strengths and weaknesses in district curriculum and instruction practices to inform professional development and curriculum resource decisions.
We administer several standardized assessments to monitor student academic achievement, academic growth and preparedness for college and career goals. They fall into three categories.
- State Accountability Tests: These tests are mandated by the state and are used to measure student attainment of Minnesota Grade Level Standards, school/district effectiveness and student readiness for MN State College and University courses.
- District Standardized Tests - These tests are purchased by the district and administered to inform educational programming and instructional decision-making.
- National College and Career Readiness Tests - These tests inform students, parents and staff on student progress toward national college and career readiness standards.
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State Accountability
- Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)
- Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS)
- ACCESS for ELs (ACCESS)
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District-Wide Formative Assessments
Grades EC-4
- FastBridge screener aReading and aMath
- Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
Grades 5-9
- Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA-MAP) in Reading and Mathematics
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National College and Career Readiness Exams
- PSAT
- PreACT
- ACT plus Writing
- Advanced Placement (AP) Subject Tests
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Below is a list of district standardized assessments. Click on the assessment below to view more details about the administration.
For specific testing dates, please visit the Assessments Calendars page.
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ACCESS for ELs
ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS
Assessing Comprehension & Communication in English State to State
Grade Level(s)
K-12 English Language Learners
Season/Subject(s)
Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing
State Window
January 28, 2019 – March 22, 2019
District Testing Dates
Test Length
Kindergarten: Up to 45 min
Grades 1-12:
Listening: Up to 40 min (20 min for Alt. ACCESS) Speaking: Up to 30 min (20 min for Alt. ACCESS)
Reading: Up to 35 min (20 min for Alt. ACCESS) Writing: Up to 65 min(20 min for Alt. ACCESS)
Source
State Required: https://www.wida.us/assessment/ACCESS20.aspx
Purpose
· Helps understand level of English language proficiency
· Used to help determine whether students are prepared to exit English language support programs.
· Assists in determining if students have attained the language proficiency needed to participate meaningfully in content area classrooms without program support.
· Provides information that enhance instruction and learning in programs for English learners.
· Will help evaluate the effectiveness of EL/bilingual programs
Timeline and format for disseminating results
· Results mailed to parents within 60 days of results received from the state.
· Results also available in online portal
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ACT
ACT
American College Testing
Grade Level(s)
11th Grade
Season
Spring
District Date
April 24th, 2019
Test Length
3 hours 25 minutes
Source
State requires opportunity: MN Statute 120B.30 Subd. 1, Section (e)
Purpose
Serves as college entrance exam.
Timeline and format for disseminating result Results are mailed to students 6-8 weeks after testing.
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AP (Advanced Placement)
Grade Level(s)
11th – 12th
Season
Spring
District Date(s)
May 7, 2019 – May 18, 2019
Test Length
1 – 2 hours per exam
Source
Local (optional): https://ap.collegeboard.org/
Purpose
Advanced Placement testing is an optional testing opportunity for students enrolled in a specific AP course. AP testing provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school and qualify for more advanced courses in college. AP test results provide instructors with a measure of curriculum effectiveness and informs instruction in preparing students for rigorous college course offerings.
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Students are notified of results in the late summer via their AP accounts.
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CogAT (Cognative Abilities Test)
CogAT
Cognitive Abilities Test
Season/Subject(s)
Winter
Grade Level(s)
Select 2nd grade students
Test Window
February 4 - 14
Test Length
Verbal: 30-45 Minutes
Quantitative: 30-45 Minutes
Non-Verbal: 30-45 Minutes
Source
District screening for potential challenge programming services.
Purpose
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Results are mailed to families at the completion of the Winter testing window. Results available in online database at the conclusion of window.
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FAST
Season/Subject(s)
Fall Winter
Spring
Grade Level(s)
Grades K-4
Grades K-4
Grades K-4
Test Window
September 7th – October 17th
January 2nd – 31st
May 1st – 25th
Test Length
Reading: 15-20 Minutes
Math: 15-20 Minutes
Source
District Required
Purpose
The FAST Assessment is a first step in identifying children who may be at risk of future difficulty in school and those who may have special needs in learning. A one-time snapshot of a child entering a kindergarten classroom cannot capture all of the cumulative experiences in programs, in the home, and in the community of a young child from birth to that day in kindergarten, therefore assessments will be done throughout the kindergarten year to help the teacher target and recalibrate instruction throughout the year. The entry assessment provides the teacher with baseline information.
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Results are shared with parents during Parent/Teacher conferences.
Website
www.fastbridge.org
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MAP (Measure of Academic Progress)
MAP (NWEA)
Measures of Academic Progress
Season/Subject(s)
Fall
Winter
Spring
Grade Level(s)
Grades 5-12 students as needed
All students Grades 5-9 and other students as needed
Grades 5-12 students as needed
Test Window
September 4th – October 16th
January 2nd – 31st
May 1st – 31st
Test Length
Reading: 45 minutes
Math: 45 minutes
Source
District Required
Purpose
The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test is used to measure your student’s reading and math progress or growth in school. These computerized tests are adaptive and the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. In an
optimal test, a student answers approximately half the items correctly and half incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level.Timeline and format for disseminating result
Results are mailed to families at the completion of the Winter testing window. Results available in online at the conclusion of window.
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MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment)
Subject(s)
Math
Reading
Science
Grade Level(s)
3-8, 11
3-8, 10
5, 8, HS (after biology course)
State Window
March 4th – May 3rd
March 4th – May 3rd
March 4th – May 10th
District Dates
Test Length
Grades 3-6: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Grades 7-8: 2 – 2.5 hours
Grade 11: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Grades 3-8: 2.5-3.5 hours
Grade 10: 2 – 3 hours
Grades 5, 8: 1.75 hours
HS: 2 hours
Source
State required: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/mn/
Purpose
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) and alternate assessment Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are the state tests that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and also meet federal and state legislative requirements. Students take one test in each subject. Most students take the MCA, but students who receive special education services and meet eligibility requirements may take the alternate assessment MTAS instead.
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Individual Student reports are handed out during open house, or mailed within the first 30 days of the new school year.
Results are also available on online portal.
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MTAS (Minnesota Test of Academic Skills)
Season/Subject(s)
Math, Reading & Science
Grade Level(s)
Identified students
State Window
March 4th – May 3rd
District Testing
Test Length
Math
30-60 Minutes
Reading
45-90 Minutes
Science
30-60 MinutesSource
State required: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/mn/
Purpose
To guide and evaluate instruction against the Minnesota State Standards in Language Arts, Math and Science
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Individual Student reports are handed out during open house, or mailed within the first 30 days of the new school year.
Results are also available on online portal.
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NAEP (National Assessment of Academic Progress
Grade Level(s)
4, 8
Season/Subject(s)
Math & Reading
District Testing Dates
January 28th: Fieldstone Elementary (Grade 4)
February 19th: Middle School East (Grade 8)
Test Length
120 Minutes (Includes transition time, directions and survey)
Source
Nationaly Required Participation:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard
Purpose
NAEP 2019 Information for District Testing Calendar
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in various subjects for grades 4, 8, and 12. The purpose of NAEP is to provide state and national trend data on student achievement. NAEP data are used to compare and understand the performance of demographic groups within Minnesota, the nation, and other states/jurisdictions. NAEP is not designed to collect or report results for individual students, classrooms, or schools.
Federal law specifies that NAEP is voluntary for every student, school, or school district. However, federal law also requires all school districts that receive Title I funds to participate in NAEP reading and mathematics assessments at fourth- and eighth-grades.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom activities. Including transition time, directions, and the completion of a survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 90 to 120 minutes for students to complete the assessment. Each student will be assessed in one subject only. Districts, schools, and teachers do not need to prepare their students to take the assessment but should encourage them to do their best. Within a school, just some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to produce the results. Student responses on NAEP are confidential, and the privacy of each participating school and student is essential. The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only.
Timeline and format for disseminating results
Results will be released at the national, state, and TUDA levels for the mathematics and reading assessments at grades 4 and 8. National results will be released for the science assessment at grades 4, 8, and 12 and the mathematics and reading assessments at grade 12. NAEP will also administer pilot assessments in 2019. Information collected from pilots will be used to ensure that future NAEP assessments continue to be a reliable measure of student achievement. By participating in pilot assessments, schools and students take an active role in how NAEP is administered and how other students will experience the assessment. Most students will take the assessment on tablets, while a small subset of students will take paper-and-pencil versions. Administering assessments via both tablets and paper booklets help in evaluating any difference in student performance between the two types of administration.
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Pre-ACT
Season/Subject(s)
English, Mathematics, Reading and Science
Grade Level(s)
10th Grade
District Date
November 7th, 2018
Test Length
2 hours 15 minutes
Source
District - Optional
Purpose
The Pre-American College Test (Pre-ACT) provides students with a potential prediction of their future ACT score and progress towards career and college readiness as well as entry-level college courses. Curriculum effectiveness while preparing students for career and college readiness is evaluated.
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Students will be handed out 4-6 weeks upon completion of the test.
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PSAT
Season/Subject(s)
Mathematics, Reading and Writing
Grade Level(s)
10th and 11th grade students
District Date
October 10th
Test Length
2 hours 45 minutes
Source
District - Optional
Purpose
The Pre-SAT (PSAT) test provides students with a measure of potential career and college readiness and success. Scores from the PSAT taken in the junior year are considered for the National Merit Scholarship competition
Timeline and format for disseminating result
Results are mailed to student home address when scoring is complete
