Statewide Assessments

Minnesota's statewide assessments support an equitable education system for all students.

The assessment results provide a window into equitable opportunities for students across the state to demonstrate:

• Learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards (MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA).
• Progress towards proficiency of WIDA English Language Development Standards (WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS). 

MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA results represent a snapshot of student learning of grade-level content standards.

The results represent a valid measurement of student learning of the academic standards at the time they test. However, these results alone do not illustrate the whole picture of what a student has learned that school year.

WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alt ACCESS results represent the level of proficiency in academic English, at the time that students test.

Statewide assessment results should be used with additional evidence of student learning.

Minnesota's statewide assessments function as one part of a balanced, comprehensive assessment system that works in coordination to provide information about student learning of the standards. The results should be considered with additional, more fine-grained evidence of student learning, like projects and classroom assessments.

Minnesota Assessment Lifecycle Course, Module 1: Minnesota Assessments Overview