Assessment Purpose and Rationale

Purpose: To measure progress towards meeting the WIDA English Language Development Standards

Rationale: ESSA - Every Student Succeeds Act

Source of Requirement: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Who is assessed: students in grades K - 12 who are eligible for ELL services

Format:

• Kindergarten - paper
• Grades 1-12 - online
• WIDA Alt ACCESS (K-12) - paper

Subjects Assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, & Speaking

Estimated Time: 

• Kindergarten: 45 minutes (1 day)
• Grades 1-12: 4 hours and 45 minutes (divided over multiple days)
• WIDA Alt ACCESS (K-12): 2 hours (divided over multiple days)

How Results are Shared with Families: Digital version will be in Parent Campus Portal by the beginning of November, paper copies available upon request

Purpose: To measure learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards

Rationale: ESSA - Every Student Succeeds Act and Minnesota State Statutes

Source of Requirement: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Minnesota Statute 120B.30

Who is assessed: 

• Mathematics: grades 3-8, and 11
• Reading: grades 3-8, and 10
• Science: grades 5, 8, and once in High School (year of Biology coursework)

Format:

• MCA - online
• Alt MCA - mode varies on student need; paper, hybrid, or online
• MTAS - paper

Subjects Assessed: Mathematics, Reading, and Science

Estimated Time: 

• Mathematics: 1.5 hours
• Reading: 1.5 hours
• Science: 1.5 hours
• Alternate MCA/MTAS: 1 hour

How Results are Shared with Families: Digital version will be in Parent Campus Portal by the beginning of November, paper copies available upon request

Purpose: NAEP is a measure of academic progress across the nation and over time. Administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (within U.S. Department of Education)

Rationale: ESSA - Every Student Succeeds Act

Source of Requirement: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Who is assessed: students in grades 4, 8, and 12 at selected schools

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Math, Reading, Science

Estimated Time: Approximately 90 minutes

How Results are Shared with Families: The U.S. Department of Education does not share individual results. State level results can be found here.

Purpose: The Minnesota Bilingual Seal and World Language Certificate is an award given by Minnesota school districts in recognition of high school graduates who have attained proficiency in English and another language, including American Sign Language and tribal languages. A Multilingual Seal is awarded to high school graduates who have attained proficiency in English and two or more additional languages. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, a statewide system of 30 colleges and seven universities with 54 campuses across the state, offer college credit for the Minnesota Bilingual and Multilingual Seals and World Language Proficiency Certificates.

Rationale: Minnesota Bilingual Seals Program

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Bilingual Seals Program

Who is assessed: Available to students in grades 10 - 12

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, & Speaking

Estimated Time: About 2 hours

How Results are Shared with Families: A digital copy of the results will be made available to the families. Students who have earned a Bilingual Seal or Certificate receive a physical award and a notation on their high school transcript.

Purpose: Is used to screen students who are not reading at grade level for reading difficulties, including characteristics of dyslexia

Rationale: Minnesota Statutes and the READ Act

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.12.2

Who is assessed: Students in grades 4-12 who are not reading at grade level

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Literacy

Estimated Time: 1 - 2 hours

How Results are Shared with Families: 

Purpose: One of the tools used to identify students for Gifted and Talented programming

Rationale: Minnesota Statutes

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.15

Who is assessed: Students in Kindergarten and Grade 2, students not yet identified as GT can be nominated to take the CogAT in grades 1, 3, 4, and 5

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal Cognitive Skills

Estimated Time: 

• Kindergarten: 1.5 hours (divided over 3 days)
• 2nd grade: 2.5 hours (divided over 3 days)

How Results are Shared with Families: Letters with the results are mailed to families by the beginning of January

Purpose: Is used as a district-wide universal screener to assess students' Literacy skills

Rationale: Minnesota Statutes and the READ Act

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.11.2 and 120B.12 (READ Act)

Who is assessed: Students in grades K-8

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Literacy

Estimated Time: 

• Kindergarten - 2nd grade: 9 minutes
• 3rd grade - 8th grade: 15 minutes

How Results are Shared with Families: Teachers share results with families upon request

Purpose: Is used as a district-wide universal screener to assess students' Math skills

Rationale: Minnesota Statutes

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.11.2

Who is assessed: Students in grades K-5

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Mathematics

Estimated Time: 

• Kindergarten - 2nd grade: 10 minutes
• 3rd grade - 8th grade: 15 minutes

How Results are Shared with Families: Teachers share results with families upon request

Purpose: Measures if students are meeting certain benchmarks throughout the school year

Rationale: Minnesota Statutes

Source of Requirement: 142D.08 Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program and 142D.05 School Readiness Programs

Who is assessed: Students in Pre-K

Format: Teachers administer assessments in multiple formats including observation and teacher administered (1:1)

Subjects Assessed: Literacy, Math, and Social Emotional

Estimated Time: 

• Literacy: 10 minutes
• Math: 10 minutes

How Results are Shared with Families: Teachers share results with families

Purpose: Is used as a district-wide universal screener to assess students' Math skills

Rationale: Minnesota Statutes

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.11.2

Who is assessed: Students in grades 6-8

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Mathematics

Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes

How Results are Shared with Families: Teachers share results with families upon request

Purpose: Measure Spanish language levels of our LCD identified students

Rationale: Latino Consent Decree (LCD)

Source of Requirement: Latino Consent Decree Stipulation

Who is assessed: students in grades 3-12 who are identified as Latino Consent Decree (LCD)

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, & Speaking

Estimated Time: About 2 hours (divided over multiple days)

How Results are Shared with Families: A digital copy of results will be sent to families. A paper copy of results is available upon request.

Purpose: Measures a high school student's readiness for college, and provides colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.

Rationale: Minnesota State Statutes

Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statute 120B.30.16

Who is assessed: 11th grade students and 12th grade students who have not yet taken the in-school District ACT (students choose to take, not required for graduation)

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science

Estimated Time: about 3 hours

How Results are Shared with Families: Students/families access results through MyACT.org, results will also be available on students’ SPPS transcripts.

Purpose: Standardized exams designed to measure how well a student mastered content & skills from their AP course(s). Most U.S. colleges grant credit, advanced placement, or both for qualifying AP scores.

Rationale: Administered in conjunction with AP courses

Who is assessed: High school students taking AP courses

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Assessment specifically associated with AP course

Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours

How Results are Shared with Families: Students can access their results via their College Board account. Scores are released in July.

Purpose: Tool to evaluate college and career readiness. It is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities.

Rationale: Optional opportunity

Source of Requirement: National Merit Scholarship

Who is assessed: 11th grade students

Format: Online

Subjects Assessed: Math, Reading and Writing

Estimated Time: 

• Reading and Writing: 64 min.
• Math: 70 min.

How Results are Shared with Families: Students can assess results via the ‘Big Future School’ mobile app (by College Board)