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.

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. 
  • September 1, 2025: STC confirms the affirmations of staff test security agreements and uploads district testing plans for the 2025-2026 school year. MontCAS Application.
  • September 1, 2025: STC completes the STC Test Security Agreement in the MontCAS Application.
  • September 15, 2025: MAST testlets must be scheduled by end of day September 15 in the Scheduler Tool.
  • September 26, 2025: For NAEP selected schools, principals complete the School Coordinator Designation. 
  • November 21, 2025: STC enters any needed requests for non-routine accommodations for MAST Window 1 test administration. MontCAS Application.
  • December 5, 2025: STC enters any needed requests for non-routine accommodations for DLM ELA/math Fall Window test administration. MontCAS Application.

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: August 25, 2025 ~ note updates for MAST, DLM ELA/math, WIDA ACCESS, and NAEP. 

Required for All Statewide Assessments

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

► Note 2025-2026 Testing Windows! There are changes in testing windows from the 2024-2025 school year. Note these on your calendars. The biggest changes affect the alternate assessments and the WIDA ACCESS: 

  • DLM Alternate ELA/math Fall Testing Window: Sept. 8-Dec. 19, 2025; Spring Testing Window: Feb. 2-May 15, 2026
  • DLM Alternate Science Testing Window: Feb. 2-May 15, 2026
  • WIDA ACCESS Testing Window: Jan. 5-March 5, 2026

► Save the Date! The 2025 STC Workshop is planned for September 4, 11, and 18. This year, the workshop will incorporate the MAST Virtual Summit into the schedule. View the STC Workshop Website for session information and links to join. No registration is required this year. 

► STCs create district testing plans for the 2025-2026 school year and upload them in the MontCAS Application. Deadline: September 1, 2025.

  • Watch Sessions 5 and 6 from the 2024 STC Workshop for examples and "how-tos" for writing plans. 

  • Base plans on the updated plan checklists found on the Test Security page of the OPI Statewide Testing website. 

  • Ensure 2024-2025 school year testing plans and accompanying evidence are saved for a minimum of three years. 

MAST Assessment

► Schedule MAST testlets for the 2025-2026 school year. Deadline: September 15, 2025

► Create and maintain user accounts. 

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

DLM Alternate ELA/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. A facilitated training will be offered on Thursday, September 11 at 1:00 p.m. 

► 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

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

► 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

► 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. 

► Principals complete the School Coordinator Designation - Deadline September 26, 2026

MSAA (Alternate ELA/Math - Retired)

► MSAA Individual Score Reports (ISRs) are now available in the MSAA System. Download and share with parents. ISRs will not be available on the portal after September 6, 2025.

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.  

The DLM math and ELA assessments will follow an instructionally embedded model, with multiple testlets administered during both fall and spring testing windows. 

Stay up to date by visiting the OPI Assessment Stay Informed page for announcements, including the release of the 2025–2026 DLM testing windows. Additional training will be provided this fall, including sessions during the STC Workshop Series in September. 

For more information, visit the DLM Assessment Website and explore the Montana-specific DLM Informational Overview. 

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.  

The DLM science assessments will consist of multiple testlets but will be administered only during the spring window. 

Stay up to date by visiting the OPI Assessment Stay Informed page for announcements, including the release of the 2025–2026 DLM testing windows. Additional training will be provided this fall, including sessions during the STC Workshop Series in September. 

For more information, visit the DLM Assessment Website and explore the Montana-specific DLM Informational Overview. 

Required Statewide Assessments

Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) Assessment - 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.  

 

Montana State Assessment Results

Montana's 2024-2025 State Assessment results will be made available in early September. 

 

 
 
 


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