Testing Calendar
Lower
Trimester 1 – Ends October 30
- August 17 – September 3, 2026 - FastBridge
- August 31 – September 11, 2026 - Capti ReadBasix (*3-4)
- October 12 – October 26, 2026 - Benchmarks
- October 27 – October 30, 2026 - Reteach/Review
Trimester 2 – Ends February 12
- January 19 – January 29, 2027 - FastBridge
- January 25 – February 5, 2027 - Capti ReadBasix (*3-4)
- February 1 – February 9, 2027 - Benchmarks
- February 10 – February 12, 2027 - ACCESS (EL)
- February 10 – February 12, 2027 - ReTeach/Review
Trimester 3 – Ends May 21
- April 7, 2027 - MCA Practice/Simulation (4)
- April 8, 2027 - MCA Practice/Simulation (3)
- April 20, 2027 - MCA Reading (3-4)
- April 21, 2027 - MCA Math (3-4)
- April 22, 2027 - MCA Make-Up Day (3-4)
- April 26 – May 7, 2027 - FastBridge
- May 3 – May 14, 2027 - Capti ReadBasix (*3-4)
- May 10 – May 17, 2027 - Benchmarks
- May 18 – May 20, 2027 - Reteach/Review
Formative Assessments
Include on-going assessments, anecdotal records, quizzes, progress monitoring, and
diagnostic tests, reviews, and observations in a classroom. Teachers use formative assessment to improve
instructional methods and student feedback throughout the teaching and learning process. The results of formative
assessments are used to modify and validate instruction.
Formative “Benchmark” Assessments
Are used intermittently (weekly, bi-weekly, or beginning/end of trimester) to determine progress of skills and/or mastery of MN content standards. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Imagine It! reading, grades K-4
- Fluency reading/math facts, grades 1-4
- RIGGS orthography, phonics, grades K-3
- Heggerty phonemic awareness, grades K-1
- Writing, grades K-4
- Voyages grammar, grades K-4
- Wordly Wise Greek and Latin roots, grade 4
- Saxon math, grades K-4
- FastBridge reading/math, grades K-3
- Capti ReadBasix reading, grade 3-4 (*for readers who do not meet benchmark expectations)
Summative Assessments
Summative evaluations are used to determine if students have mastered specific
competencies, identify instructional areas that need additional attention, and evaluate the effectiveness of
instructional programs at the end of an academic year or at a pre-determined time. Summative assessments include
statewide and national tests. The ACCESS and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) are administered once per year.
- ACCESS assessments for EL students, grades K-4
- Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) reading/math, grades 3-4
Middle
February 2026
- Feb 10-February 12, 2026 - WIDA ACCESS (EL English proficiency test)
- Feb 10 - Listening & Reading Tests
- Feb 11th - Speaking Test
- Feb 12th - Writing Test
Access for ELL is the MN state required assessment for English Language Learner
April 2026
- April 14th, 2026 - MS MCA Math (5-8)
- April 16th, 2026 - MS MCA Reading (5-8)
- April 17th, 2026 - MS MCA Science (5 & 8)
- April 22nd, 2026 - 24th - MCA Make-ups
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
State Required Testing: The ELL and MCA tests are Minnesota state required tests. Local Testing: The PSAT, ACT, and AP tests are not required tests but made available to students who wish to take them at the school’s location.
Upper
October 2025
- PSAT - Oct 11, 2025
Standardized/Pre-SAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam
February 2026
- Feb 10-February 12, 2026 - WIDA ACCESS (EL English proficiency test)
- Feb 10 - Listening & Reading Tests
- Feb 11th - Speaking Test
- Feb 12th - Writing Test
Access for ELL is the MN state required assessment for English Language Learner
April 2026
- April 15th, 2026 - US MCA Science (10th) Math (11) Reading (10)
- April 22nd, 2026 - 24th MCA Make-ups
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
- ACT (date tbd)
May 2026
- AP (Advanced Placement) Testing (May 2-13)
College level examinations based on college level Advanced Placement classes. Colleges/Universities may grant credit and placement based on student scores.
