Helpful information and documents to prepare for MCA Math, Reading and Science Tests.

Active Monitoring

Test Administrators must actively monitor students throughout the entire test administration and ensure that all students are working independently and making progress in their tests. Test Administrators cannot complete other tasks, such as lesson planning, grading papers, or talking casually with other staff.

Materials on Walls or Student Desks

Any materials that pertain to direct language instruction or the language expectations of an academic content area should be covered or removed during test administration. If testing is taking place in the EL classroom, all materials on walls or student desks that pertain to language instruction should be covered or removed. Although content is referenced in the test items, a student’s content knowledge is not part of the language proficiency scoring. If there are questions about whether the materials are content-focused or support language instruction, then cover or remove them. MDE does not have a list of materials that can remain visible to students during testing.

Test Security Reminder (As reported from MDE following 2024 drop-ins)

Districts must follow the policies and procedures for statewide assessments as documented in each district’s written District Policies and Procedures for Statewide Assessments (previously titled District Test Security Procedure). This procedure must be finalized prior to the administration of statewide assessments.

Some of the most common security violations that were observed by MDE monitoring visits during statewide assessment administrations last spring included:

·       Online assessment calendar does not reflect actual testing schedule.

·       Test directions not followed exactly as scripted.

·       Test content not covered if a student had to temporarily leave the room.

·       Not enough space in between students who are testing.

Some of the more common violations that were reported to MDE by districts as an Assessment Security Record included:

·       Staff not completing all required training prior to being involved in testing.

·       Failure to keep testing materials secure at all times.

·       Impermissible assistance by a staff member.

·       Student completing an assessment on a personal device and/or outside of a secure testing location.

Student Formula Sheets: Please print and have available for your students when taking the math test. (Grades 5-HS)