Opportunities for Educators

MDE invites science educators to apply to be part of the Science MCA-IV Item Writer Training in Summer 2025. The training will be 4.5 days, with approximately 15–20 additional hours needed to independently complete the writing assignments. The 2025 item writer training will be focused on writing engaging grade-level phenomena and questions tied to the 2019 Minnesota Science Standards, with the goal to generate creative thinking and to engage unique teaching approaches to build a repository of phenomena and questions for the Science MCA-IV.

Schedule and Process Details

• Attend required training/work days: 
  • June 27 (virtual half-day)
  • July 16–17 (in person all day)
  • Aug. 5–6 (in person all day)
• Work independently to complete two phenomenon-based scenarios with seven to eight questions for each phenomenon by Aug. 11.

Benefits for Educators

• Build a robust understanding of and diverse perspectives on the 2019 Science standards
• Offer insights to the creation of quality assessments that impact 60,000 students per grade
• Expand creative thinking and develop engaging grade-level phenomena and item ideas
• Learn skills and practices that support strong classroom assessment
• Collaborate with science colleagues from across Minnesota
• Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
• Receive monetary participation compensation

If you are interested in being part of this Science MCA-IV Item Writer Training, please fill out the MCA Science Item Writer Application by April 25. Selected writers will be contacted the week of April 28–May 2. Writers will be chosen based on grade-level and content-area writing needs, as well as experience in developing assessments.

MDE encourages any teachers and educators interested in becoming a science item writer to apply. MDE wants to increase the impact teachers have on our Science MCA-IV assessment and look forward to engaging with more teachers around the state. If you have colleagues who might be interested in participating, please send them this information.

Another way to be involved in Science MCA development is to register to participate in MCA Educator Review Committees. Educator input is vital in the development of items to the new science standards. We are always looking for more educators to become involved on the review process. This opportunity is open to third grade and above science, math, language arts, English learners and special education teachers. Please contact Science Assessment Specialists Jim Wood at jim.wood@state.mn.us and/or Judi Iverson at judi.iverson@state.mn.usfor more information.

What: MTAS/Alternate MCA test administrators and special education staff are invited to meet with MDE alternate assessment specialists to give feedback, ask questions and connect with other special education staff from across the state.

Why:  Learn about the new WIDA Alternate ACCESS Exit Criteria from Dean Reasoner, MDE EL Assessment Specialist, see an example of the new Science Alt MCA Individual Student Reports, give feedback on the 2025 MTAS/Alt MCA administration, and have your questions answered.

Next session is on May 20 from 4–5 p.m. Please register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect. 

When: We will be meeting the third Tuesday of each month during the school year. You only need to register once to join any of the monthly Chat and Connects that work for you. The Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect dates for 2024-25 are: Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 17, Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 18, April 15, and May 20 at 4 p.m. (Registration link for the 2025-26 Alt Chat & Connect Series will be available in August.)

Where: Via Zoom.

How: Register for the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect

For more information, contact ALT.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us.

The 2020 Minnesota Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) will reach full implementation in school year 2025–26. According to state statute, all students must receive instruction and classroom-level assessment in all standards and grade-level benchmarks.

In addition to classroom assessments, students in Minnesota take additional literacy assessments including the Reading Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and literacy screeners. The first administration of the Reading MCA-IV will cover the 2020 Minnesota Academic Standards in ELA in Spring 2026 for students in grades 3–8 and 10. Literacy screeners are now administered to students in grades K–3 three times a year (see the MDE READ Act Screening webpage for more information about literacy screening).

MDE has developed the 2020 Minnesota English Language Arts (ELA) Standards and Corresponding Assessments chart to clarify how the 2020 Minnesota ELA Standards are measured across these three types of assessments: classroom assessments, literacy screeners, and the Reading MCA-IV. This chart is posted in the Assessment section on the MDE English Language Arts webpage.

The chart highlights the central role of authentic classroom assessment of all three ELA strands: 1) reading, 2) writing, and 3) listening, speaking, viewing and exchanging ideas. It may provide clarity about the connections between standards and additional literacy assessments that students encounter.