Search MnSTA

Resources Supporting Science MCA and Alt MCA Results Release

Student results from the new Science Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) and Science Alternate MCA (Alt MCA) will be released later this fall. First administered last spring, these assessments were developed to align with the 2019 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Science, which districts and charter schools have now fully implemented. As you review results, keep in mind that each district’s academic standards transition may affect Science MCA-IV/Alt MCA scores during the first few years of administration.

These assessments and the standards they measure are substantially different than the previous MCA-III and Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) assessments, so results cannot be compared across the series. Fully implementing new standards and assessments takes time, and it may be several years before the benefits are seen as educators and students adjust to the shifts in curriculum and instruction.

Given these differences, district leaders, including curriculum directors and district assessment coordinators, should develop a plan to communicate Science MCA-IV and Alt MCA results to their school boards, administrators, staff, families, and the media.

When communicating assessment results with staff and the public, keep these points in mind:

• Highlight key messages. Identify main points of your district’s standards implementation process and assessment results. Keep the message simple, especially for sharing with a variety of audiences.
• Explain the purpose. Describe the Science MCA-IV and the information it provides. Consider providing additional context using:
• Test specification documents for an overview of test structure and design.
• Released test questions from the Minnesota Questions Tool as examples of how standards are assessed.
• Performance Level Descriptors to explain the knowledge and skills students demonstrate at each level.
• Be proactive. Outline your district’s standards implementation process and explain how results in the first few years may be impacted by the transition.
• Show how assessment results are used in the district and schools alongside other assessments and instructional data. Avoid defensive statements or making excuses for results.
• Share support plans. Communicate how the district will continue supporting science standards implementation across all grades and content areas. Consider using supports available on the Science Standards Implementation page.

Though science results will be released later this fall, the typical reporting process is still followed. Final student-level and summary assessment results are first available to districts in Assessment Secure Reports, beginning with District and School Student Results (DSR/SSR) files and then Test Results Summary reports. These results are embargoed, meaning districts and schools can review and use the results for planning and messaging but cannot share or discuss them publicly. Once MDE lifts the embargo, final assessment results are published publicly on the Minnesota Report Card and the Data Reports and Analytics page of the MDE website, and Individual Student Reports (ISRs) are provided to districts for distribution to families.