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 MAP assessment?

Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®) are state-aligned computerized adaptive 2-7 interim assessments that measure growth, and accurately inform how educators differentiate instruction, evaluate programs, and structure curriculum. MAP assessments reveal precisely which academic skills and concepts the student has acquired and what they're ready to learn. Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments are administered twice annually to all students in grades K-8 in Math and Reading.

Results Availability

RPS families can view their child’s NWEA-MAP 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.

Results Availability:

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

What is the FastBridge?

FastBridge is a Computer-Adaptive Tests (CAT) 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.

Results Availability:

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