Students work on grade level academic standards within the curriculum beginning in Kindergarten. We begin formally assessing their learning of academic standards using the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCAs) starting in grade 3.
What are state academic standards?
The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards are the statewide expectations for student achievement in K-12 public schools. The standards identify the knowledge and skills that all students must achieve in a content area by the end of a grade level or grade band.
What are Standards-Based Accountability Assessments?
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 (reading, mathematics, and science). Most students take the MCA, but students who receive special education services and meet eligibility requirements may take the alternate assessment MTAS instead.
Statewide tests are annual, summative measurements of student achievement that are used, along with many other school and classroom assessments, to evaluate student learning and skills. Every spring our students participate in the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-IIIs) in both reading in math in grades 3-4; science starts in grade 5.
How do our students at school prepare for state testing?
Preparation includes:
- encouraging students to do their best learning and have a growth mindset
- teaching students grade-level academic standards in core instruction
- providing students opportunities to apply and learn academic standards
- assessing students' learning frequently and provide reteaching or enrichment
- communicate with families
- practicing using the online MCA item samplers in math and reading provided
