Testing Calendar
Lower
Quarter 1
- Benchmarks & STEP - October 14 – October 29, 2021
- Reteach/Review - November 1 – November 5, 2021
Quarter 2
- Benchmarks & STEP - January 3 – January 14, 2022
- Reteach/Review - January 18 – January 21, 2022
Quarter 3
- ACCESS (EL) - January 31 – February 25, 2022
- Benchmarks & STEP - March 14 – March 25, 2022
- Reteach/Review - March 28 – March 31, 2022
Quarter 4
- MCA Practice/Simulation - April 6, 2022 (grade 4)
- MCA Practice/Simulation - April 7, 2022 (grade 3)
- MCA Reading - April 22, 2022 (grades 3 & 4)
- MCA Math - April 25, 2022 (grades 3 & 4)
- MCA Make-Up Day - April 26, 2022 (grades 3-12)
- Benchmarks & STEP - May 16 – May 27, 2022
- Reteach/Review - May 31 – June 2, 2022
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
Lower School Assessment Vocabulary
Formative Assessments
Include on-going assessments, anecdotal records, quizzes, 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 end of quarter) to determine mastery of MN standards. These may include, but are not limited to:
Imagine It! Reading benchmarks, grades K-4
RIGGS orthography, phonics, writing
Voyages Grammar, grades K-4
Saxon Math, grades K-4
STEP (Strategic Teaching and Evaluation of Progress), grades K-4
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), grades 3-4
Middle
February 2022
- ACCESS for ELL
April 2022
- April 19 - MCA Reading 5-8
- April 21 - MCA Math 5-8
- April 22 - MCA Science 5 and 8
- April 25 - MCA Makeup
- April 26 - MCA Makeup
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements
Upper
October 2021
- October 13 - PSAT - Standardized/Pre-SAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam
February 2022
- ACCESS for ELL
April 2022
- April 20 - MCA Reading - 10th
- April 20 - MCA Math - 11th
- April 20 - MCA Science - 9th
- April 25 - MCA Makeup
- April 26 - MCA Makeup
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
May 2022
- May 2-13 - AP (Advanced Placement Testing)
College level examinations based on college level Advanced Placement classes. Colleges/Universities may grant credit and placement based on student scor
Lower
Beginning of the Year
- Benchmarks & STEP - August 31 – September 18, 2020
Quarter 1
- Benchmarks & STEP - October 20 – October 28, 2020
- Reteach/Review - October 28 – October 30 2020
Quarter 2
- Benchmarks & STEP - January 4-12, 2021
- Reteach/Review - January 12-15, 2021
Quarter 3
- ACCESS (EL) - February 1-26, 2021
- Benchmarks & STEP - March 8-19, 2021
- Reteach/Review - March 22-25, 2021
Quarter 4
- MCA Reading - April 23, 2021 (grades 3 & 4)
- MCA Math - April 26, 2021 (grades 3 & 4)
- MCA Make-Up Day - April 27, 2021 (grades 3-12)
- Benchmarks & STEP - May 12-26, 2021
- Reteach/Review - May 26 – June 3, 2021
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
Assessment Vocabulary
Formative Assessments
Include on-going assessments, anecdotal records, quizzes, 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 end of quarter) to determine mastery of MN standards. These may include, but are not limited to:
Imagine It! Reading benchmarks, grades K-4
RIGGS orthography, phonics, writing
Saxon Math, grades K-4
STEP (Strategic Teaching and Evaluation of Progress), grades K-4
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), grades 3-4
Middle
February
Access for ELL - 7th & 8th
April 2021
MCA - 5th - 8th
- MCA Reading 5 - 8 (April 20)
- MCA Math 5 - 8 (April 22)
- MCA Science 5, 8 (April 23)
- MCA Make Up (April 28, 29)
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
Upper
October 2020
- ACT - Oct 6 - Grade 12
- PSAT - January 26 - Grade 11
- ACT - March 2 - Grade 11
February 2021
Access for ELL - 9th-12th
April 2020
MCA - 9th-11th
- MCA Reading 10 (April 21)
- MCA Math 11 (April 21)
- MCA Science 9 (April 21)
- MCA Make Up (April 28, 29)
MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) is the MN state required assessment to meet state and federal legislative requirements.
May 2020
AP (Advanced Placement Testing)
- May 3-14
College level examinations based on college level Advanced Placement classes. Colleges/Universities may grant credit and placement based on student scores.
