Standardized Assessments are tests that are given outside of the curriculum and instruction process. They are typically purchased from a test vendor and provide normative comparisons at the national or state level. The timing of the administration of assessments is more closely related to the school year calendar and program decision-making timelines, than to the pacing of the curriculum and instruction in the classroom. They are used to measure student progress toward meeting grade-level standards, predict performance on state accountability tests, triangulate data for program decisions, screen students for remediation or enrichment, and identify relative strengths and weaknesses in district curriculum and instruction practices to inform professional development and curriculum resource decisions.

We administer several standardized assessments to monitor student academic achievement, academic growth and preparedness for college and career goals. They fall into three categories.

• State Accountability Tests: These tests are mandated by the state and are used to measure student attainment of Minnesota Grade Level Standards, school/district effectiveness and student readiness for MN State College and University courses.
• District Standardized Tests: These tests are purchased by the district and administered to inform educational programming and instructional decision-making.
• National College and Career Readiness Tests: These tests inform students, parents and staff on student progress toward national college and career readiness standards.

• Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)
• Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS)
• ACCESS for ELs (ACCESS)

• Grades K-1
  • DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills)
  • DIBELS easy CBM Math
• Grades 2-5
  • Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA-MAP)
  • DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills)
• Grade 5
  • Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
• Grades 6-8
  • Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA-MAP)

• PSAT
• PreACT
• ACT plus Writing
• Advanced Placement (AP) Subject Tests

For more information about Standardized Assessments, contact Patrick Morrow, Data & Assessment Coordinator, at pmorrow@c-ischools.org

The ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs are the assessments developed by the WIDA consortium and administered to English learners in order to measure progress toward meeting Minnesota’s standards for English language development, developed by the WIDA consortium. Most English learners will take the ACCESS for ELLs, but English learners who received special education services and meet the participation guidelines may take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.

More information about ACCESS tests can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education Statewide Testing page.

Required by: State of Minnesota

Content Area/Subject: English Language Proficiency (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Purpose: Meets ESSA federal accountability requirement for measuring English language acquisition for English Learners (ELs)

Participants: All students identified as ELs in Grades K-12

Mode of Administration: Online (desktops, laptops), requires keyboard and headset with microphone

Test Length: listening up to 40 minutes, speaking up to 30 minutes, reading up to 35 minutes, writing up to 65 minutes.

Accessing Your Child's ACCESS Results:

• Individual Student Reports (ISR): Each year, MDE sends paper Individual Student Reports (ISR) to the school district. Once received in the district, ISRs will be shared with you by the EL teacher for your child's school.

The MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) measures student progress toward Minnesota's academic standards and meets the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The Title I section of ESSA requires that all public school students be assessed in grades 3–8 and once in high school in reading and mathematics state accountability calculations. Testing of science is also required for ESSA but is not included in AYP or MMR calculations. Students take one test in each subject. Most students take the MCA, but some students who receive special education services may meet eligibility criteria may take the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS). More information about MCA tests can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education Statewide Testing page.

Required by: State of Minnesota

Content Area/Subject: Reading. Math, Science

Purpose: Meets federal ESSA accountability requirements. Measures how well academic standards are being aligned to curriculum and instruction in our schools, to ensure that all students in the state are provided an equitable education.

Participants: all students in Grades 3-8 and 10 (Reading), All students in Grades 3-8 and 11 (Math), All students Grades 5, 8 and HS students taking a Life Science Course (Science)

Mode of Administration: online (desktops, chromebooks)

Test Length: Untimed, average test duration: Reading 2.5-3.5 hours, Math 1.5-2.5 hours, Science 1.75-2.0 hours

Accessing Your Child's MCA Results:

• Individual Student Reports (ISR): Each year, MDE sends paper Individual Student Reports (ISR) to the school district. Once received in the district, ISRs will be distributed to families by US mail, during August Back-to-School events, or during fall conferences.

The Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) is an alternative state test for which students with significant cognitive disabilities may be eligible to take in place of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA). The MTAS measures student progress toward Minnesota's academic standards and meets the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

More information about MTAS tests can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education Statewide Testing page.

Required by: State of Minnesota

Content Area/Subject: Reading, Math, Science

Purpose: Meets ESSA federal accountability requirement for special education students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

Participants: Students in special education who meet the eligibility criteria. There is a 1% cap on the number of students who can take the MTAS.

Mode of Administration: Individual Administration by Special Education Teacher

Test Length: Administration length varies by student

Accessing Your Child's MTAS Results:

• Individual Student Reports (ISR): Each year, MDE sends paper Individual Student Reports (ISR) to the school district. Once received in the district, ISRs will be distributed to families by US mail, during August Back-to-School events, or during fall conferences.

According to current Minnesota State Statutes, all high school students are encouraged to participate in a nationally normed college entrance exam. School districts must provide high school students in grades 11 or 12 the opportunity to take a nationally recognized college entrance exam before graduating. In Cambridge-Isanti Schools, we offer the ACT plus Writing exam to all students in grade 11 in the spring.

Required by: State of Minnesota (districts choose which assessment to use)

Content Area/Subject: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing

Purpose: Meets Minnesota State Graduation Assessment Requirement. According to current state statute, all Minnesota public school districts must offer all students in grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to take a College Entrance Exam at school during the school day.

Participants: All students in Grade 11. Also any new students in Grade 12, who have not already taken the ACT plus Writing.

Mode of Administration: Online

Test Length: 5.0 Hours

Accessing your child's ACT plus Writing Results:

• ACT plus Writing results are mailed from ACT directly to the address the student provides on the ACT test answer document.

Required by: Cambridge-Isanti Schools

Content Area/Subject: English, Math, Reading, Science

Purpose: The PreACT test provides a guidance resource to help students measure their current academic development and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation. It also let’s students know how they would perform on the ACT test if they took it at that time.

Participants: All students in Grade 10.

Mode of Administration: Paper

Test Length: 3.5 hours

Accessing your child's PreACT Results:

• PreACT Individual Student Reports (ISR), once received in the district, will be distributed to families through child's Directed Study course.

Required by: Optional

Content Area/Subject: Varies by course

Purpose: Part of the Advanced Placement (AP) program. Allows students to build college skills and earn college credits while in high school.

Participants: Optional for all students in grades 9-12. Typically students, who are taking AP courses, take the corresponding AP test.

Mode of Administration: Varies by course

Test Length: Varies by course

Accessing your child's AP Results: Following each AP testing season, parents can access their child's AP test results through the high school assessment office.