Assessment Calendar

State Required Assessment

Parents/guardians have a right to not have their student participate in state-required standardized assessments. Minnesota Statutes require the department to provide information about statewide assessments to parents/ guardians and include a form to complete if they refuse to have their student participate.

Resources for Families

Translations of the Statewide Assessments Family Letter MCA and MTAS have been posted to the Students and Families Statewide Testing page of the MDE website (under the Translated Documents expandable header).

MCA

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment is an online assessment containing multiple choice and technology enhanced items.

Purpose

To measure student progress toward Minnesota's academic standards and meet the requirements of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30 and ESSA

Dates - Reading and Math

Elementary and middle school students
- Reading: March 3 - April 25
- Math: March 3 - April 25
High school students
- Reading: March 3 - April 25
- Math: March 3 - April 25

*Students who observe either Ramadan or Passover may request an alternate testing date if their observation of these holidays would affect their ability to complete the MCA.

Additional Information

Reading - grades 3-5: estimated assessment time is 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours
Reading - grades 6-8: estimated assessment time is 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours
Reading - grade 10: estimated assessment time is 2 to 3 hours
Math - grades 3-5: estimated assessment time is 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Math - grades 6-8: estimated assessment time is 2 to 2 1/2 hours
Math - grade 11: estimated assessment time is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours

Dates - Science

Elementary students (grade 5 only): March 3 - May 2
Middle school students (grade 8 only): March 3 - May 2
High school students: March 3 - May 2

*Students who observe either Ramadan or Passover may request an alternate testing date if their observation of these holidays would affect their ability to complete the MCA.

Additional Information

Science, grade 5: estimated assessment time is 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Science, grade 8: estimated assessment time is 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Science, high school (generally grade 10): estimated assessment time is 2 to 2 1/2 hours

Results

Results are emailed to families, and available in an online portal by the end of September.

MTAS/Alternate MCA

The Minnesota Test of Academic Skills/Alternate MCA is a performance-based alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

Purpose

Dates - Reading, Math and Science

March 3 - May 2

Additional Information

Reading - grades 3-8 and 10: administration time varies for each student
Math - grade 2-8 and 11: administration time varies for each student
Science - grades 5, 8 and high school: administration time varies for each student.

Results

Results are emailed to families, and available in an online portal in early September.

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0

For grades K-12, this is a computer-based, adaptive test that responds to student performance and may be administered in group or individual settings. The kindergarten test is a paper based assessment that is individually administered.

Purpose

To measure English language proficiency based on Minnesota Standards for English Language Development and to meet the requirements of the federal federal Every Student Succeeds Act.
Source of Requirement: ESSA

Dates - Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

Testing window: January 27 - March 21
School specific dates will be posted on each school's website.

Additional Information

Reading, writing, listening and speaking - Kindergarten: estimated assessment time is 45 minutes (individually administered)
Reading - grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 35 minutes
Writing- grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 65 minutes
Listening - grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 40 minutes
Speaking - grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 30 minutes

Results

Results are emailed to families, and available in an online portal in early September.

WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs

An individually administered English language proficiency assessment developed for English learners who have significant cognitive disabilities.

Purpose

Dates - Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

Testing window: January 27 - March 21
School specific dates will be posted on each school's website.

Additional Information

Reading - grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 20 minutes
Writing- grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 20 minutes
Listening - grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 20 minutes
Speaking - grades 1-12: estimated assessment time is up to 20 minutes

Results

Results are emailed to families, and available in an online portal in early September.

ACT

The ACT is made up of four curriculum-based, multiple-choice tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. The ACT is district administered – a nationally recognized college entrance exam must be available during the school day for grade 11 and 12 students who wish to participate. In Robbinsdale Area Schools, students generally take this exam in grade 11. The test will be taken online for the 2024-25 school year.

Purpose

College readiness.
Source of Requirement: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30

Date

March 12 (online)
March 26 (makeup)

Subject

Math, Reading, English and Science

Grades

11th grade

Estimated assessment time

English - 45 minutes
Math - 60 minutes
Break - 15 minutes
Reading - 35 minutes
Science - 35 minutes

Results

ACT results are available in the student myACT portal 2-8 weeks after testing.

TS Gold

National Assessment of Academic Progress (NAEP)

2024-25 District Testing Calendar

Information regarding the various state assessments, along with testing window dates, subject, grade level and estimated assessment time can be found on this page. A PDF version of the testing calendar is also available for download.

2024-25 District Testing Calendar

2024-25 school specific testing dates for state assessments

District Assessment

FastBridge early Reading and early Math (Kindergarten - Grade 1)

Purpose

To measure overall ability and critical skills in early reading and math (individually administered assessment).

Dates

September 3 - Oct. 16
December 9 - January 23
April 22 - May 23

Subject

Reading and Math

Grades

Kindergarten and grade 1

Estimated assessment time

8 minutes per student

Results

Results available one week after test window closes.

FastBridge aReading and aMath (Grades 2-5)

Purpose

FAST aReading and aMath are computer adaptive tests that measure broad reading and math skills. The tests are designed for universal screening to identify students at risk for academic delays and to inform teachers as they differentiate instruction for all students. It is also used to predict performance on state assessments.

Dates

September 3 - Oct. 16
December 9 - January 23
April 22 - May 23

Subject

Reading and Math

Grades

Grade 2 - 5 (fall, winter and spring)

Estimated assessment time

20-35 minutes per subject

Results

Results available one week after test window closes.

FastBridge aReading and aMath (Grades 6-8)

Purpose

Dates

September 3 - October 16
January 6 - 31
April 22 - May 23

Subject

Reading and Math

Grades

Grade 6 - 8 (fall, winter and spring)

Estimated assessment time

20-35 minutes per subject

Results

Results available one week after test window closes.

FastBridge aReading and aMath (Grades 9-12)

Purpose

Dates

September 3 - October 16
December 2 - January 23
April 22 - May 23

Subject

Reading and Math

Grades

aReading: Grades 9-12 *
aMath: Grades 9-10

* Not required for grade 11&12 students that have tested proficient on their Gr10 MCA Reading, met the ACT (22) college benchmark, or have tested at or above the 40th percentile on two FastBridge aReading assessments within the last 12 months.

Estimated assessment time

20-35 minutes per subject

Results

Results available one week after test window closes.

FastBridge CBMmath Automaticity

Purpose

Is a timed computer-based assessment of math fact mastery that measures a student's automaticity and accuracy with basic math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) typically taught in grades 1 through 3.

Dates

September 3 - Oct. 16
December 9 - January 31
April 22 - May 23

Subject

Math

Grades

Grades 2-10

Estimated assessment time

4 minutes per student

Results

Results available one week after test window closes.

FastBridge CBMreading

FastBridge mySAEBRS

FastBridge AUTOreading

Purpose

To assess reading skills.

Dates

Grades 2-5: September 11-29, December 11-January 19, April 29-May 17
Grades 6-8: September 11-29, January 23-February 9, April 29-May 17
Grades 9-12: September 11-29, February 5-February 23 *

Subject

Reading

Estimated assessment time

5 - 10 minutes

Results

Results available one week after test window closes.

Student Surveys

Minnesota Student Survey

Minnesota Student Survey

Robbinsdale Area Schools will conduct a student opinion survey with students in grades 5, 8, 9 and 11 between January 6 and March 28, 2025.

The purpose of this survey is to gain perspective on school climate, bullying, out-of-school activities, health and nutrition, emotional and mental health, relationships, substance use and more. It is administered once every three years.

The survey, which is administered entirely online, is an anonymous statewide school-based survey conducted to gain insights into the world of students and their experiences.