Research and Assessment

What is the ACCESS assessment?

ACCESS is an English language proficiency assessment based on the Minnesota Standards for English Language Development. This is a state required English Language Proficiency assessment for all students identified as English Learners in grades K-12. There are four language domains assessed in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Duration: 

• Reading: up to 35 minutes
• Writing: up to 65 minutes
• Listening: up to 40 minutes
• Speaking: up to 30 minutes

Results Availability:

Each year, MDE sends paper Individual Student Reports (ISR) to the school district. Once received in the district, ISRs will be distributed during August Back-to-school events or during fall conferences. RPS families can also view their child’s ACCESS scores in Skyward Family Access.

What is the MCA assessment?

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment is required by the state and measures student progress toward Minnesota academic standards in Reading (grades 3-8 and 10), Math (grades 3-8 and 11), and Science (grades 5, 8, and HS).

Duration: Untimed

Below are estimated times:

• Grades 3-6: 1.5-2 hours
• Grades 7-8: 2-2.5 hours
• Grade 11: 1.5-2.5 hours

Results Availability:

Each year, MDE sends paper Individual Student Reports (ISR) to the school district. Once received in the district, ISRs will be distributed during August Back-to-school events or during fall conferences. RPS families can also view their child’s MCA scores in Skyward Family Access.

What is the MTA assessment?

MTA is a performance-based assessment, for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It is an alternate assessment to the MCA based on alternate achievement standards that feature substantial reductions in the complexity of the academic content standards.

Duration: Untimed

Timing will vary for each student.

Results Availability:

Each year, MDE sends paper Individual Student Reports (ISR) to the school district. Once received in the district, ISRs will be distributed during August Back-to-school events or during fall conferences. RPS families can also view their child’s MTA scores in Skyward Family Access.

What is the FastBridge?

FastBridge is a Computer-Adaptive Tests (CAT)  or a 1:1 paper/pencil test depending on grade level for reading and math that delivers accurate, actionable reports for screening, skill analysis, instructional planning, and more to ensure educators have the right tools and the right data to provide timely and targeted supports. It does this in half the time as other assessments, so you spend less time testing and more time delivering data-driven instruction.

Duration:

Approximately 15-30 minutes per subject.

Results Availability:

RPS families can view their child’s FastBridge scores in Skyward Family Access.

What is the CogAT?

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will assess students' abilities in reasoning and problem solving using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal (spatial) symbols.

Duration:

Approximately 90 minutes.

Results Availability:

RPS families can view their child’s CogAT scores in Skyward Family Access.

What is the Heggerty Assessment?

The Heggerty Assessment is in three parts: 1) Concepts of Print, 2) Letter Identification and Sound Assessment, and 3) Phonemic Awareness Skills. The assessment is done one-on-one with the goal of identifying awareness that written and oral language are connected and be used to monitor student progress with phonological and phonemic awareness skills. The results can then be used to plan for instruction.

Results Availability:

RPS families can ask the classroom teacher for access to the child's scores.

What is the Really Good Reading?

Really Great Reading is a one-on-one foundational literacy skills survey that assesses a student's ability to read simple and complex single-syllable words, decodable two-syllable words, and selected site words. The data will help teachers identify the instructional needs of each student. 

Results Availability:

RPS families can ask the classroom teacher for access to the child's scores.