Testing Calendar
FASTbridge Testing
Fall: Aug. 24 – Sept. 30, 2026 (Middle & High School)
Winter: Dec. 1, 2026 – Jan. 29, 2027 (Middle & High School)
Spring: Mar. 3 – Apr. 28, 2027 (Middle & High School)
Grades: 5–12
Type: Local
Description: FASTbridge interim assessments in Math and Reading provide individual student data to inform instructional strategies. The data can be analyzed at the district level over the course of one year as well as for trends over the course of multiple years. This assessment will serve as the standardized test utilized to create district/site Q-Comp goals.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, sections 120B.021, 120B.11, and 120B.31
Time: 90 minutes (3 times annually; total 270 minutes)
Requirement: Required by district/school
WIDA Screener
Dates: Aug. 24 – Sept. 4, 2026
Grades: 5–12
Type: State
Description: Identifies incoming students as English Learners (ELs). Educators use the results to determine whether a student qualifies for English language instructional services and support. The assessment evaluates English proficiency across four foundational domains—Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing—and helps ensure districts provide legally required specialized language support and equitable access to grade-level content.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.58–124D.65
Time: 45–90 minutes
Requirement: Required by state law
CAPTI-Read Basix (Dyslexia Screener)
Dates: Oct. 1–16, 2026
Grades: 5–12
Type: State
Description: The Minnesota READ Act Dyslexia Screener is used to identify students who may be at risk for characteristics of dyslexia and related reading difficulties. The screener supports early identification and intervention by assessing foundational literacy skills such as phonological awareness, decoding, encoding, and word recognition to help ensure students receive timely, evidence-based reading support aligned with Minnesota READ Act requirements.
Statute: Minnesota READ Act – Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.12, READ Act Goal and Interventions
Time: 45–60 minutes
Requirement: Required by state law
PSAT/NMSQT
Date: Oct. 21, 2026
Grades: 10–11
Type: Local
Description: Provides practice for the SAT and allows 11th-grade students the possibility of scholarship opportunities. Measures critical reading, math, and writing skills.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30
Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Requirement: Optional
PSAT 8/9
Date: Oct. 22, 2026
Grade: 9
Type: Local
Description: Used to meet qualification requirements for concurrent enrollment classes in 10th grade. Provides practice for the SAT.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30
Time: 3 hours
Requirement: Optional
ACCESS for ELL
Dates: Feb. 1–5, 2027
- Feb. 1 – Reading
- Feb. 2 – Listening
- Feb. 3 – Speaking
- Feb. 4 – Speaking
- Feb. 5 – Writing
Grades: 5–12
Type: State
Description: Provides measurement of five content areas of the English language learner development standards and provides a proficiency level for logical progression.
Statute: ESEA
Time: Over multiple days
Requirement: Required by federal law, but only for students qualifying for ELL services
MCA Reading
Dates: Mar. 9–12, 2027
Grades: 5–8, 10
Type: State
Description: Provides evidence of student proficiency in grade-level standards.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30 and ESEA
Time: 2.5–3.5 hours (approximately 3 hours)
Requirement: Required by state law
ACT (No Writing)
Date: Mar. 17, 2027
Grade: 11
Type: State/Federal
Description: Fulfills the state requirement to offer a college placement exam; measures college readiness as well as provides scholarship opportunities.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30
Time: 2 hours 55 minutes (no writing)
Requirement: Optional
MCA Math
Dates: Apr. 13–16, 2027
Grades: 5–8, 11
Type: State
Description: Provides evidence of student proficiency in grade-level standards.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30 and ESEA
Time: 2–3 hours (approximately 2.5 hours)
Requirement: Required by state law
MCA Science
Dates: Apr. 27–30, 2027
Grades: 5, 8, 10
Type: State
Description: Provides evidence of student proficiency in grade-level standards.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30 and ESEA
Time: 1.5–2 hours (approximately 1.75 hours)
Requirement: Required by state law
AP Testing
- May 4, 2027 (Tentative) – AP Human Geography (8:00 a.m.) – Grade 9 – Local – 2 hours 15 minutes – Optional
- May 13, 2027 (Tentative) – AP Computer Science Principles (12:00 p.m.) – Grades 10–12 – Local – 3 hours – Optional
Description: Determines eligibility for college credit.
Statute: Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30
Testing Time Limits
Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.301 – Limits on Local Testing
For grades 1–6, cumulative locally adopted districtwide or schoolwide assessments are limited to 10 hours per school year. For grades 7–12, cumulative locally adopted districtwide or schoolwide assessments are limited to 11 hours per school year. International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams are not considered locally adopted assessments for purposes of these limits.
School districts may exceed these limits following consultation with students, parents, and staff and must report the rationale for exceeding the limits. Districts are also required to publish a comprehensive testing calendar that includes the rationale for each assessment and identifies whether the assessment is required by the state, federal government, or locally.
Grades 5–12 Cumulative Hours of Testing: 10 hours (not including optional tests)