MAST

Montana Alternative Student Testing Pilot

The Montana OPI is working to develop an improved assessment system that will accurately reflect the needs of our students, teachers, and administrators while providing useful flexibility in terms of test administration. The vision of the Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) Pilot is to implement “through year” assessments across the state that can eventually replace the traditional end-of-year state summative assessments and satisfy federal testing requirements.

The Through-Year Assessment design benefits students, teachers, parents, and administrators by providing actionable data at the beginning of the school year and by providing a meaningful model of student growth over the academic school year (i.e., with-in year so teachers can act as opposed to between years). Another goal for the design feature is to allow districts to flexibly align testing with local scope and sequence offering coherence with the taught curriculum.

On May 4th, 2022, the OPI in partnership with the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment (Center for Assessment) convened a task force with the purpose of investigating the research phase of the Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) Pilot Program. A diverse group of education stakeholders were chosen using criteria such as geographic location, school and community experiences, district size, grade levels served, and cultural perspectives.

Final Report of MAST Task Force
Theory of Action
EIR Grant Overview

Educator Engagement Opportunity

The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is excited to announce an opportunity for Montana educators to get involved in the development and improvement of the MAST assessment. We are looking for dedicated and passionate teachers to join our team for test item writing and review.

Your expertise and insights as educators are invaluable in ensuring the quality and relevance of the MAST assessment. By participating in this program, you will have the chance to make a meaningful impact on the assessment process, ultimately benefiting students across Montana.

If you are interested in becoming part of our team, please take a moment to express your initial interest by filling out the form below. Further information, including dates and details, will be provided by our testing partner, New Meridian, once we have collected responses.

We appreciate your dedication to education and your willingness to contribute to the improvement of the MAST assessment. Your commitment to the success of Montana students is truly commendable.

Thank you for considering this opportunity, and we look forward to working with you to enhance the MAST assessment.

Please fill out the MAST Educator Cadre Recruitment Form and submit by September 29, 2023. Thank you!

As the first year of MAST concluded, Supt. Arntzen asked the Federal Department of Education for a one-year double-testing waiver to remove the summative test for those students, schools, and districts that participate in the MAST pilot program for the school year of 2023-2024.

The documents below include the double-testing waiver and correspondence with the U.S. Department of Education.

Double-Testing Waiver
July 17, 2023 Communication
July 25, 2023 Communication
August 7, 2023 Communication

MAST Year 1 (2022-2023)

Beginning the school year fall of 2022, the MAST Pilot began with grades 5 through 7 and involved math and English Language Arts (ELA). Participating students completed math and ELA testlets during 4 testing windows, utilizing a through-year assessment model.

MAST Year 2 (2023-2024)

For the 2023-24 school year, the MAST Pilot expanded to grades 3 through 8 in both math and English Language Arts (ELA). Participating students will complete math and ELA testlets during 5 testing windows, including a performance assessment in window 5. Testlets will be aligned to districts' individual curricular scopes and sequences.