Montana Comprehensive Assessment System

►Ensure you enter any testing incidents that occur in your district in the MontCAS Application. 

• The MontCAS Application User Guide has step-by-step instructions for entering testing incidents starting on page 9. 

►Write your district testing plans for the 2024-2025 school year. The deadline for this task has passed. If the district does not have testing plans on file, they should be completed as soon as possible.

• Watch Sessions 5 and 6 from the STC Workshop Series 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 webpages. 

► MAST Window #1 closes this Friday, November 22, 2024! Ensure all students have completed testlets. 

• Find resources and information on the OPI MAST webpage and the MAST Portal. 

► Ensure the below items are completed prior to administration of MAST testlets.

• Prepare student testing devices for testing. Use this Install Guide for assistance.
• Roster students for testing. This short focused support video guides users through the steps to roster students. 
• Enter student PNPs in preparation for testing. Steps for entering PNPs are provided in this focused support video. 

► MAST Training Opportunity (Optional): 4:00-5:00 p.m. - January 6, January 27, March 10, April 7, April 28

• The OPI is providing additional professional learning sessions supporting the MAST Assessment and information provided through score reports. The sessions are centered around using evidence based high-impact instructional strategies to support MAST and building a community of practice where educators can rely on each other for the support they need related to MAST and learning in general. Use the Zoom Link to join. 

► Send Individual Score Reports home to parents/guardians. 

• Attach the ESSA required information about how to read the reports. 
• A score report letter template for the MSA is available on the Parent Corner page of the OPI website. 
• This 5 minute video walks users through accessing and downloading Individual Student Reports to send home to parents

► Montana Science Assessment Interims are now live in the Montana Testing Portal. 

• The MSA Interim Assessments Test Administration Manual will guide users through the steps to administer the optional interim science assessments. 

► Ensure students are appropriately marked in AIM/Infinite Campus. 

• Students eligible for the Alternate Montana Science Assessment must be marked as alternate in AIM/Infinite Campus to ensure they are uploaded to the Montana Testing Portal appropriately. 

► Send Individual Score Reports home to parents/guardians. 

• Attach the ESSA required information about how to read the reports. 
• A score report letter template for the AMSA is available on the Parent Corner page of the OPI website. 
• This 5 minute video walks users through accessing and downloading Individual Student Reports to send home to parents

► Ensure students are appropriately marked in AIM/Infinite Campus. 

• Students eligible for the Multi State Alternate Assessment (ELA and mathematics) must be marked as alternate in AIM/Infinite Campus to ensure they are uploaded to the MSAA Portal appropriately. 

► Send Individual Score Reports home to parents/guardians. 

► Pearson Accessnext (PANext) is now open for the 2024-2025 school year.

• Complete the Test Date Selection task in PANext. This 4 minute video walks users through the steps to complete this task. Deadline: December 6, 2024.
• STCs should log into the portal and verify user accounts for the district are up-to-date (delete users no longer in the district, add new users). 

► Enter requests for accommodations in the Test Accessibility and Accommodations system. Deadline: February 7, 2025. 

• The TAA System is accessed via the ACT Success site. 
• The TAA User Guide provides instructions for requesting accommodations. 

► Send Individual Score Reports (ISRs) home to parents/guardians. 

• Attach the ESSA required information about how to read the reports. 
• A score report letter template for the ACT with Writing is available on the Parent Corner page of the OPI website. 
• This 3 minute video walks users through how to download ISRs from the ACT Success site. 

The ACCESS for ELLs testing window opens on December 2, 2024. Ensure your district is ready for testing. 

► Ensure all EL students are marked appropriately in AIM/Infinite Campus.

• EL students must be marked as EL in AIM/Infinite Campus to be included in the student upload to the WIDA AMS for test administration.

► Ensure all staff assigned to administer the ACCESS for ELLs have completed required training.

• Test Administrators must complete required training prior to test administration. 
• Training modules are accessible on the WIDA Secure Portal.  

► Send Individual Score Reports home to parents/guardians. 

• Attach the ESSA required information about how to read the reports. 
• A score report letter template for the ACCESS for ELLs is available on the Parent Corner page of the OPI website. 
• This 4 minute video walks users through how to download ISRs from the WIDA AMS site. 

► Send Individual Score Reports home to parents/guardians. 

• Attach the ESSA required information about how to read the reports. 
• A score report letter template for the Smarter Balanced Assessment is available on the Parent Corner page of the OPI website.
• This 5 minute video walks users through the steps to access and download Individual Student Reports to send home to parents: VIDEO - Presentation Slides

► LTT School Coordinator: Complete Preassessment Tasks 

• The LTT School Coordinator must schedule the Assessment Planning Meeting (APM) (Task 4) and complete the Preassessment Tasks before the Assessment Planning Meeting
• Task 5: Provide Student Information
• Task 6: Assessment Logistics
• Task 8: Notify Parents/Guardians
• Task 10: Support Assessment Activities