- North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale
- Research, Evaluation & Assessment
- Standardized Assessments
Teaching & Learning
- Welcome
- Teaching & Learning Staff Directory
- Welcome to Beginning Band
- Instructional Technology Overview
- Advanced Learning in District 622
- Bilingual Seals Program
- United Marching Band
- Kindergarten Phonemic Awareness Project
- English Language Learners
- Local Literacy Overview
- Performing Arts Opportunities
- Office of Educational Equity
- Staff Development Overview
- Educational Equity Alliance Overview
- School Improvement Planning
- Research, Evaluation & Assessment
- Dual Language Immersion Program
- District Staff Directory
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Standardized Assessments in District 622
Standardized assessments serve several purposes in District 622:
- Providing information for instructional decision-making;
- Screening for placement in such programs as academic interventions and enrichment offerings;
- Reporting to all educational stakeholders, from students to community; and
- Evaluating programs to determine what is working, what is not working, and what should be done next.
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State Accountability Assessments
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments measure student progress towards Minnesota’s academic standards in reading, math, and science. MCA results are used by the district in its school and district improvement processes and reported to the public for school and district accountability.
Purpose: To measure learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards and to meet federal ESSA accountability requirements.
Required by: State of Minnesota
Participants:Reading: All students in grades 3-8 and 10
Math: All students in grades 3-8 and 11
Science: All students in grades 5, 8, and high school students enrolled in Biology*Some students with significant cognitive disabilities may take the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) instead of the MCA.
Dates: Students take the MCA every spring.
Test length: Untimed; estimated testing time is 2 hours for Reading, 1.5 hours for Math, and 1.5 hours for Science
Results: Student reports are sent home with students (in elementary and middle) or mailed home (in high school) before the Fall conferences of the following year. School and district results are available on the Minnesota Report Card
Resources: Additional information including Parent Fact Sheets and score interpretation resources can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education website.
Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS)
The Minnesota Test of Academic Skills is the alternative state assessment that some students with significant cognitive disabilities may take instead of the MCA.
Purpose: To measure learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards and to meet federal ESSA accountability requirements
Required by: State of Minnesota
Participants: Students in special education who meet the eligibility requirements
Dates: Students take the MTAS every spring.
Test Length: Untimed; estimated testing time is 1.5 hours for Reading, 1 hour for Math, and 1.5 hours for Science
Results: Student results are sent home with students (in elementary and middle) or mailed home (in high school) before Fall conferences of the following year. School and district results are available on the Minnesota Report Card.
Resources: Additional information including Parent Fact Sheets and score interpretation resources can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education website.
ACCESS for ELLs
The ACCESS for ELLs assessment measures English learners’ progress towards meeting Minnesota’s standards for English language development in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. ACCESS results are used to determine support and programming for English learners, and to evaluate program effectiveness.
Purpose: To measure progress towards English language development standards and to meet federal ESSA accountability requirements
Required by: State of Minnesota
Participants: All students identified as English learners in Grades K-12*Some English learners who receive special education services and meet the participation guidelines may take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs instead of ACCESS for ELLs.
Dates: Students identified as English learners take ACCESS every spring.
Test Length: 65 minutes for Listening, 60 minutes for Reading, 50 minutes for Speaking, 70-90 minutes for Writing
Results: Student reports are mailed home in the Fall of the following year. School and district results are available on the Minnesota Report Card.
Resources: Additional information including Parent Fact Sheets and score interpretation resources can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education website. -
District Assessments
Formative Assessment System for Teachers (FAST)
FAST is a comprehensive reading and math assessment system that supports district-wide assessment (universal screening) of all elementary students and progress monitoring for some students who are receiving additional support. Results from FAST assessments are used to measure students’ growth and inform instructional decision-making, including decisions for classroom instruction as well as decisions regarding additional support or enrichment for students.
Purpose: Universal screening and progress monitoring
Required by: ISD 622
Participants: All students in grades K-5 participate in universal screening; some students in grades K-12 participate in progress monitoring
Dates: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Test Length: Estimated testing time is 30 minutes for reading and 30 minutes for math
Results: Student results are available through classroom teachers during fall, winter, and spring conferences.
Resources: For more information on FAST measures, see the FastBridge website.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
MAP is a comprehensive reading and math assessment system that supports district-wide assessment of students in grades 6-9 (universal screening) and gives teachers information about student achievement of state standards. Information from these tests helps teachers determine what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, so that classroom instruction can be targeted to students’ needs.
Purpose: Universal screening
Required by: ISD 622
Participants: Students in grades 6-9
Dates: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Test Length: Estimated testing time is 1 hour for reading and 1 hour for math
Results: Student results are available through classroom teachers during fall and winter conferences.
Resources: For more information on MAP, see the NWEA MAP website.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
The CogAT is an assessment of students' reasoning and problem-solving abilities and includes verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative questions. These results are used as one of the multiple measures which help identify advanced learners who can benefit from accelerated learning opportunities.
Purpose: One of multiple measures used to help identify advanced learners
Required by: ISD 622
Participants: Students in grade 2
Dates: February
Test Length: 1 hour per section (3 hours total)
Results: Student results are available through classroom teachers during spring conferences. -
College and Career Readiness (including ACT)
ACT Plus Writing
According to Minnesota State Statutes, school districts must provide high school students an opportunity to take a college entrance exam. District 622 has chosen to offer students the ACT Plus Writing in order to provide students with the most flexibility in selecting post-secondary institutions. All 11th graders will take the ACT Plus Writing during regular school hours on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. All 11th graders are eligible to take the test, even if they have already taken an ACT before.
Purpose: Provide students the opportunity to take a college entrance exam
Required by: State of Minnesota (districts choose which assessment to use)
Participants: All students in Grade 11 (and any new students in Grade 12 who have not already taken the ACT plus Writing).
Date: April 5, 2022
Test Length: 4 hours
Results: Student results are mailed directly from ACT to the address provided on the ACT test answer document.
Resources: For more information on the ACT, see the ACT website.
ACT National Test Dates
District 622 does not currently operate ACT Test Centers for national test dates. Students may register for and take the ACT at any available test center. Test dates, online registration, and other resources are available at http://www.actstudent.org/. Contact your high school counselor for information on fee waivers.
YouScience
Administered in the fall of 8th and 10th grades, the YouScience inventory provides information about student aptitudes, interests, and preferences, contributing valuable guidance for high school and career planning.
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Testing Calendars
District 622 Testing Calendars
Because schools within District 622 differ in when they choose to administer state accountability assessments (MCA/MTAS, ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS) within the designated window, the schedules below provide additional detail about when students can expect to complete each subject or domain of the assessment. These schedules are tentative and will be updated as the window for each assessment approaches. For specific information about when, where, and which tests your student will take, please contact your school.
Assessment Calendar Overview 21-22
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Student Time in Testing
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Parent/Guardian Refusal for Student Participation in Assessments
Parents or Guardians of District 622 students have a right to limit their child's participation in statewide and district assessments.
You may find more information about statewide testing and a form to refuse participation on the Parent/Guardian Guide and Refusal for Student Participation Form published by the Minnesota Department of Education.
If you wish to refuse participation in local, districtwide testing, please complete the 622 Parent/Guardian Assessment Refusal form.
Either form can be submitted to your school's main office. To ensure that your child's school is able to fulfill this request, please submit your completed form before the start of the school year or no later than January 15th. Every effort will be made to honor requests as well as make other arrangements for your child during testing. If you have questions, contact your building principal or Amy Luckner in the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (aluckner@isd622.org or 651-748-7474).
