MAST Science Development & Overview

Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year Science Assessment

 

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) received a U.S. Department of Education grant to design MAST Science, a through-year assessment system for grades 6–8. Through-year assessments are administered in multiple sessions throughout the school year, providing timely data to support both summative reporting and instructional decision-making. This design benefits students, teachers, parents, and administrators by offering actionable information throughout the year and providing a meaningful picture of student performance over time. Another key goal is to allow districts to flexibly align science testing with local scope and sequence, ensuring coherence with the taught curriculum.
 


Building on the framework of MAST ELA and Math, OPI partnered with the Center for Assessment and a task force of Montana educators and leaders to develop a Theory of Action. This framework guides the system’s design, ensuring MAST Science assessments are classroom-connected, standards-aligned, and supportive of meaningful student learning across Montana.

 

MAST Science Implementation Timeline

 

 

Be Part of Montana’s Innovative MAST Science Assessment!

 

Become a part of MAST Science—a new, Montana-grown through-year science assessment. 

Pilot testlets, share feedback, and help build a system that supports powerful classroom learning in grades 6–8.

  MAST Science Pilot Participation Form

 

 

 

 

Decorative Image

About the Small-Scale Pilot:

  • When: Spring 2026
  • Who: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science classrooms across Montana
  • What: Students will complete two short NGSS-aligned testlets (about 30 minutes each), each testlet has 10-12 total items. The small-scale pilot covers the following Montana Content Standards:
  • Purpose: Provide teachers with formative information about student understanding of key science concepts. Gather data to inform future assessment design and development.
  • How: The pilot will be administered via the KITE Portal, the same platform used by 3rd–8th grade students for MAST ELA and math assessments.
  • Support: Text-to-Speech accommodations will be available for students who require them. Other accommodations will not be a part of this initial pilot.
  • Participation Commitment: Each participating classroom will administer two of the three testlets, taking approximately 60 minutes that can be broken up into separate sessions.
  • Other Details:
    • Score Reports for Pilot Year 1 will include raw score reports (showing the number of points a student earned)
    • There is a short educator and student survey after completion of the two assessment testlets (~7 Multiple Choice/Likert Scale Questions)
    • 8th Grade students will still need to complete the Montana Science Assessment for the 2025-2026 school year. 


 

MAST Science Assessment Framework Image

 

Montana Educator MAST Contributions

Montana educators and leaders are playing a crucial role in the development and enhancement of the MAST assessment and the implementation of MAST Science. An Assessment Implementation Committee has been established with a range of Montana Educators to support the implementation of all MAST assessments. Along the way, Montana educators will also participate in item writing, item review, standard setting, and continued feedback opportunities.

Return to Statewide Assessment Home

MAST Science Contacts:

Erin de Graw, Assessment Specialist
Marie Judisch, Senior Manager of Academic Outcomes & Instruction