Minnesota Assessment System Overview Jennifer Dugan Director, Statewide Testing 6/18/15 “Leading for educational excellence and equity. Every day for every one.”

Tests Offered Legislative Changes Administration Details Plans for education.state.mn.us 2

Mathematics and Reading –Grades 3–8 and once in high school –Aligned to Minnesota Academic Standards Science –Once in elementary, middle, and high school –Aligned to Minnesota Academic Standards English Learners –Grades K-12 –Assess English language proficiency in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking Federal and State Requirements for Minnesota Assessment System 3 education.state.mn.us

AssessmentK MCA and MTAS Reading  Math  Science  ACCESS for ELLs (English Learners only)  Minnesota Statewide Testing Program  Required for federal and state accountability. Developed and administered by the state (includes MCAs and special education assessments)  Required for English Learners for federal Title III accountability. Used as exit criterion for state funding. An alternate assessment is available for ELs with significant cognitive disabilities

Minnesota Assessment System Snapshot ( ) 2015 Legislative Changes Eliminates Career and College Ready Assessments (state) –Grade 8 (Explore) –Grade 10 (Plan) –Compass –Grade 11 ACT through state contract Requires Districts –Contract for College Entrance Exam  Offering College Entrance Exam during school day in school (or at one of the locations) is graduation requirement  ACT reimbursement funds available 5 education.state.mn.us

Minnesota Assessment System 2015 Legislative Changes Requires New HS Writing Test –Aligned to Minnesota Academic Standards –Implementation timeline still to be determined –Details communicated as soon as finalized 6 education.state.mn.us

2015 Legislative Changes Assessment Budget MDE will no longer be able to provide a state solution to the career interest survey –Districts will need to provide career exploration elements no later than 9 th grade Program Reductions/Eliminations for –No GRAD Retests  Other options continue to be available –No Perspective (Learning Locator) beginning July 1 –No Write to Learn –Further reductions are possible; updates as finalized Program Reductions/Eliminations for –No OLPA –Further reductions to be determined 7 education.state.mn.us

Beginning 2016, MCA grades 3-8 Reading and Mathematics administration –Longer test to include items from off-grade –Required in legislation Beginning 2016, MCA grades 3-8 and HS Reading and Mathematics administration –Adaptive –Provide “on-track” indication for career and college –Required in legislation Additional Details Test Design education.state.mn.us 8

Online and Mobile Devices –Pilot Study Spring 2015 –Reformat –Possible loss of items/pass –Tablets and Chromebooks supported Administration Changes –TestNav8 (test engine) –PearsonAccessNext (administrative system) –Cloud-based Administration Revisions education.state.mn.us 9

Accommodations Advisory Review Panel Assessment Advisory Committee Local Assessment and Accountability Advisory Committee Technical Advisory Committee State Assessments Technology Work Group Advisory Committees education.state.mn.us 10

College and Career Readiness Policy Institute (2009) Assessment and Accountability Working Group (2012) Testing Reduction Advisory Group ( ) Test Policies and Procedures Committee ( ) Parent Focus Groups for Report Redesign (spring 2016) Advisory Committees Special Focus and Limited Time education.state.mn.us 11

How can you become involved? Unique professional development opportunity at no cost to districts Teachers learn how tests are built Teachers learn the standards intimately Teachers see student performance across the state 12 education.state.mn.us

MDE Assessment Contacts education.state.mn.us 13

Contact Information Jennifer Dugan –Director, Statewide Testing –(651) education.state.mn.us