2024-2025 Assessment Data Release

Statewide releases include MAST Math & ELA (grades 3–8), Multi-State Alternate Assessment (grades 3–8, 11), Montana Science Assessment (grades 5 and 8), Alternate Montana Science Assessment (grades 5, 8, and 11), and 11th grade ACT scores.

The Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) is the suite of statewide assessments aligned with Montana's academic content standards to meet federal testing requirements. 

Click for a List of Upcoming Events

Follow links to register, join, or learn more about upcoming statewide assessment related events.
  • December 5-December 12, 2025: Window to submit testing incidents and requests for non-participation exemptions for MAST Window #1 in the MontCAS Application. 
  • Tuesday, December 9: WIDA ACCESS Test Security and Test Monitoring webinar - 12:00-1:00 PM
  • Thursday, December 11: WIDA ACCESS Technology Troubleshooting - 12:00-1:00 PM
  • Friday, December 19: DLM ELA/math Fall Window closes.
  • Thursday, December 25: The OPI is closed in observance of Christmas Day.
  • Thursday, January 1: The OPI is closed in observance of New Year's Day. 
  • Monday, January 5: WIDA ACCESS testing window opens (closes March 6)
  • Monday, January 12: MAST Window #2 opens (closes March 6)

Click for a List of Upcoming STC Deadlines

View the upcoming deadlines for System Test Coordinator (STC) tasks for all statewide assessments. 

 

  • Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences: Individual Student Score Reports for statewide assessments administered during the 2024-2025 school year must be shared with parents/guardians no later than fall Parent/Teacher conferences. See the Parent Corner webpage for resources to assist in sharing this information. 
  • December 12, 2025: STC enters MAST Window #1 requests for non-participation exemptions and testing incidents in the MontCAS Application between December 5 and December 12, 2025.
  • December 19, 2025: DLM ELA/math Fall Window closes. Ensure all alternate students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 have completed Fall Window testlets. 
  • January 5, 2026: WIDA ACCESS testing window opens. 
  • January 12, 2026: MAST Testing Window #2 opens. 

 

Quick Links

STC Checklist

System Test Coordinators can check here weekly for an up-to-date list of timely tasks. Click the tab for a list of tasks for each state required assessment. 

Updated: December 8, 2025 

Required Statewide Assessments

The primary purpose of assessment in Montana is to serve learning. Statewide assessments provide insight into student learning in core subjects and English language proficiency while fulfilling state and federal requirements.

Required for All Statewide Assessments

►  Report instances of non-participation in the MontCAS Application after each testing window closes. See the MontCAS Test Security Collection Schedule for the submission window deadlines for each testing window. 

►  Report testing incidents in the MontCAS Application as they occur throughout the school year. The MontCAS Application User Guide has step-by-step instructions for entering incidents. 

►  Request non-routine accommodations for all statewide assessments in the MontCAS Application at least 2 weeks prior to planned testing. The MontCAS Application User Guide has step-by-step instructions for requesting non-routine accommodations. 

►  Bookmark the MontCAS Test Security Collection Schedule for 2025-2026. This schedule includes all tasks with deadlines for all statewide assessments. 

MAST Assessment

**Window 1 has closed.

► Enter instances of non-participation for Window 1 in the MontCAS Application. Deadline: December 12, 2025. 

► Create and maintain user accounts. 

► Prepare student testing devices. 

► Roster students.

  • All students should be rostered to a teacher for both math and ELA.

► Enter student PNPs.

► Share 2024-2025 Student Score Reports with Parents/Guardians. 

  • Districts can download and customize this OPI Score Report Letter template to include alongside the score report to meet ESSA requirements for notifying parents of student scores.

  • Watch the Focused Support Video "Accessing and Utilizing MAST Score Reports" (about 16 minutes) - VIDEO - Presentation Slides

DLM Alternate ELA/math

The DLM ELA/math Fall Testing Window  closes on December 19, 2025. 

►Ensure all alternate students in Grades 3-8 and 11 are administered the required testlets in ELA and math. 

► Ensure IEP/504 Plans for alternate students are updated with new assessment names. 

► Create and maintain user accounts. 

  • Authorized Representatives and STCs have been given district level access in the Kite Educator Portal and are responsible for creating and maintaining user accounts.

► Assign required training to all staff who will be administering the alternate assessments. 
 
► Review the following Focused Support Videos for Topics on Getting Started in the Educator Portal: 
 
 

DLM Alternate Science

► Ensure IEP/504 Plans for alternate students are updated with new assessment names. 

► Watch the recorded webinar for an introduction to DLM Assessments. Share with staff in your district who may benefit, such as Special Education partners. 

Introduction to DLM Assessment Webinar Recording

Montana Science Assessment

► Share Student Score Reports with Parents/Guardians. 

  • Districts can download and customize this OPI Score Report Letter template to include alongside the score report to meet ESSA requirements for notifying parents of student scores.

  • Watch this short video for step-by-step instructions for accessing MSA score reports: "MSA Score Report Access" (about 5 minutes) - VIDEO - Presentation Slides

ACT with Writing

► Request Accommodations and English Learner Supports in TAA. 

► Share Student Score Reports with Parents/Guardians. 

  • Districts can download and customize this OPI Score Report Letter template to include alongside the score report to meet ESSA requirements for notifying parents of student scores. Note that while ACT does send a copy of the student reports to students, it is the responsibility of the district to send a copy to families and include the information about how to read and use the reports. 

  • Watch the ACT with Writing Score Report Access video for assistance in accessing score reports (about 3 minutes)  - VIDEO - Presentation Slides

WIDA ACCESS / WIDA Screener

Prepare for the WIDA ACCESS testing window: January 5-March 6, 2026

► Screen newly enrolled students for whom the Home Language Survey indicates screening. Mark EL students appropriately in Infinite Campus to ensure they are uploaded to the WIDA AMS.

► Plan training for TAs. Training courses have been updated for WIDA ACCESS, Kindergarten ACCESS, and WIDA Screener. 

  • These courses are required for the 2025-2026 school year regardless of past training. 

► Share Individual Student Reports (ISRs) with parents/guardians.  Paper ISRs have been delivered to districts. Digital versions can be accessed in WIDA AMS. 

  • View this Focused Support Video for instructions to view and download the digital score reports. 

  • This OPI Parent Letter can be used to meet state and federal requirements for timely notification. 

► Review score reports to exit eligible students. 

  • Students who have obtained an Overall Composite Score of 4.7 or higher should be exited from EL status in Infinite Campus.

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

Schools selected to participate in NAEP 2026 have been notified. 

MSAA (Alternate ELA/Math - Retired)

► MSAA Individual Score Reports (ISRs) are no longer available in the MSAA System. If your district did not download them during the summer/fall window, contact the OPI Assessment Unit to have your reports delivered to you via secure file transfer. 

The Multi State Alternate Assessment will no longer be administered to Montana students with significant cognitive disabilities in Grades 5, 8 and 11 as of the 2025-2026 school year. The required Alternate ELA and math content area will be assessed with the Dynamic Learning Map (DLM).

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, the Dynamic Learning Map (DLM) will replace the Multi State Alternate Assessment (MSAA). All alternate assessments will now be administered on the Kite platform to align with the administration of MAST.  

AMSA (Alternate Science - Retired)

► Share Student Score Reports with Parents/Guardians. 

The Alternate Montana Science Assessment will no longer be administered to Montana students with significant cognitive disabilities in Grades 5, 8 and 11 as of the 2025-2026 school year. The required Alternate science content area will be assessed with the Dynamic Learning Map (DLM).

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, the Dynamic Learning Map (DLM) will replace the Alternate Montana Science Assessment (AMSA). All alternate assessments will now be administered on the Kite platform to align with the administration of MAST.  

Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year Assessment (MAST) - ELA and mathematics assessment administered to Grades 3 through 8.

Montana Science Assessment (MSA) - Science assessment administered to Grades 5 and 8.

ACT with Writing (ACT) - ELA, mathematics, and science assessment administered to Grade 11 (high-school requirement).

DLM Alternate ELA/Math Assessments (DLM ELA/math) - ELA and mathematics assessments administered to Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (SwSCD) in Grades 3 through 8 and 11.

DLM Alternate Science Assessment (DLM Science)- Science assessment administered to Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (SwSCD) in Grades 5, 8, and 11.

WIDA ACCESS - English Language Proficiency assessment for English Learners (EL) administered to ELs in Grades K through 12. 

Alternate ACCESS Assessment (Alt ACCESS)- English Language Proficiency assessment for English Learners (EL) administered to ELs with significant cognitive disabilities in Grades K through 12.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - Also known as the Nation's Report Card, NAEP is administered only in selected schools to students in mathematics and reading in Grades 4, 8, and 12.

MSAA and AMSA - The MSAA and AMSA will no longer serve as Montana's alternate assessments.  

 

 
 
 


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