District Assessments

  • Liz Deen
    Liz Deen
    liz.deen@swwc.org
    ALCs in Glencoe, Pipestone and Windom and STARRS Online Academy

      MN Accountability Assessments

      • The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment is the state's mandated standardized accountability assessment administered in compliance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30 and ESSA. The Minnesota Test of Academic Skills/Alternate MCA is a performance-based alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

        What are the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs)?
        The MCAs are a snapshot in time of the skills our students possess. They are designed to provide an overall picture of where schools and/or the district may need additional attention to improve performance. The MCAs produce valuable information that we use to target resources at a systematic level. They are useful for looking at approximately how many students meet the state standards across an entire school or the district as a whole.

        How does SWWC use the MCA results?
        SWWC uses the MCA results to help us identify where to target resources for school improvement. It also helps us know if we have made progress and whether our strategies are working or need to change. SWWC does not use MCA results to rank or penalize any school, program, or student. SWWC does not use the MCA to "diagnose" individual students' needs.

        Can I use the MCA to evaluate an individual student or a teacher?
        No. By design, the MCA is only useful at a system level, like an entire school. They are not useful in diagnosing needs for any individual child, nor are they useful for teacher evaluation.

        How do the MCA results show up outside of school?
        Students' MCA scores are confidential. However, many third parties use aggregated MCA results. For example, publicly available MCA results are the data that feed school quality and real estate websites. MCA scores are not used for college admissions. However, MCA scores may be used to avoid placement tests at many Minnesota colleges and universities.

        How does taking the MCA benefit my child?
        While the indirect benefits of helping us improve as a system are quite important, MCA scores also provide the fastest and easiest route to admission to the Postsecondary Enrollment Option / Concurrent Enrollment programs, commonly called PSEO and CE. Meeting the standards on certain MCAs automatically make students eligible for both programs, bypassing GPA and course requirements. These programs offer college courses and credits free to students - including free materials.

        Additional information about statewide testing can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education's website. Translations of the Statewide Assessments Family Letter MCA and MTAS have been posted to the Students and Families Statewide Testing page of the MDE website (under the Translated Documents expandable header).

      ACCESS for ELL

      • ACCESS for ELLs 2.0, for grades K-12, is a computer-based, adaptive test that responds to student performance and may be administered in group or individual settings. The kindergarten test is a paper-based assessment that is individually administered. To measure English language proficiency based on Minnesota Standards for English Language Development and to meet the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

        Source of Requirement: ESSA WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELs is an individually administered English language proficiency assessment developed for English learners who have significant cognitive disabilities.

      District Standardized Assessments

      • What is FastBridge?
        FastBridge is a suite of valid and reliable assessments that include both curriculum-based measures (CBM) and computer adaptive tests (CAT). These assessments measure reading and math skills. The results, used along with other data, provide evidence teachers use to determine timely additional supports that students may need in certain skill areas. The assessments also use prior performance to inform recommendations as well as project future performance throughout the year.

        The assessments are comprised of both screeners and diagnostics. Screeners tell teachers and other staff where to dig deeper into a student's abilities. Diagnostics provide information on specific skill areas in need of additional development. Screeners are conducted three times a year in fall, winter, and spring. Diagnostics are administered when necessary. If a student does receive additional resources, the diagnostic assessments are used to track progress.

        All students grades K-12 take the FastBridge assessments. When combined together for the grade level, these assessments are known as FastTrack Reading and FastTrack Math.

        FastBridge Reading assessments:
        • Grades K and 1: earlyReading English (about 5-10 minutes)
        • Grades 1: earlyReading English (about 5-10 minutes) and CBMreading English (about 5 minutes)
        • Grades 2 and 3: CBMreading English, aReading, and Nonsense Word Fluency (about 40 minutes)
        • Grades 4 - 12: AUTOreading and aReading (about 30 minutes)

        FastBridge Math assessments:
        • Grade K: earlyMath Numerical Identification, Number Sequence, Match Quantity, and Decomposing (5-10 min)
        • Grade 1: earlyMath Numerical Identification, Math Place Value, Decomposing, Number Sequence, Story Problems (5-10 min)
        • Grades 2-3: aMath, CBMmath Automaticity
        • Grades 4-8: aMath, CBMmath Automaticity
        • Grades 9-12: aMath, CBMmath Automaticity *Recommended for students at-risk and/or new to the district

        Click here to view the 2024-25 FastBridge District Assessment Plan

        Results Availability
        SWWC families can view their child’s FastBridge scores upon request to the district. FastBridge results do not appear on student transcripts, nor are they made available to any postsecondary institutions. FastBridge is used internally by SWWC only.

      College Entrance Exams

      • Nationally recognized college entrance exams are tests that inform students, parents, and staff on student progress toward national college and career readiness standards.

        What is the ACT?
        ACT is a national college admissions examination designed to measure academic achievement in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT includes an optional writing test which SWWC does not administer. ACT includes a profile and education/career planning section to help students plan for life after high school.

        According to Minnesota State Statute, all school districts must allow high school students in grades 11 or 12 to take a nationally recognized college entrance exam before graduating. SWWC in collaboration with local and regional school districts offers the ACT to all students in grade 11 in the spring. Below are the estimated times:
        • Total - Approximate: 3 hours
        • English: 45 minutes to answer 75 questions on usage/mechanics and rhetoric skills
        • Math: 60 minutes to answer 60 questions on pre-algebra/elementary algebra, intermediate algebra/coordinate geometry, and plane geometry/trigonometry
        • Reading: 35 minutes to answer 40 questions after reading four reading selections – social studies, natural sciences, literary narrative/prose fiction, and humanities
        • Science: 35 minutes to answer 40 questions on interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills

        Accommodations
        Accommodations are available for students who qualify through Special Education (IEP), 504 Plan, and/or English Language Learner status. For more information about your ACT Accommodations, please take a look at the following accommodation resources or speak directly with your Site Administrator or Case Manager. 

        Results Availability: SWWC families can view their child’s results on their student's ACT web account.

        Additional information about the test can be found on the ACT website.

      Student Participation

      • Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31, subdivision 4a, requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to publish a form for parents/guardians to complete if they refuse to have their student participate in state-required standardized assessments. It includes some basic information to help parents/guardians make informed decisions that benefit their child and their school and community. The form to meet this legislative requirement is available at the link below; it was updated in March 2024. When completed, it must be returned to your student's district; your student's district may require additional information.

        READ Act Screening 
        Your student's participation in READ Act foundational literacy skills screening is important as it allows your school and district to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education and helps schools identify students in need of alternative instruction and intervention. In the past, students with disabilities and English learners were often excluded from literacy screening. By requiring that all students complete literacy screening, schools and teachers have more information to see how all students are doing and which students need more support in literacy. This helps schools to continuously improve the education they provide and to identify groups, grades, or subjects that may need additional support.

      District Assessment Calendar