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Assessment

At Melrose Area Schools, we use a variety of assessments to monitor student progress, guide instruction, and ensure that each learner receives the support they need to succeed. These assessments measure key academic skills in reading, math, and science, as well as language proficiency and career readiness. Below is an overview of the assessments we administer:

Early Literacy and Math Assessments (K-1)

  • FastBridge earlyReading (K-1) – Assesses foundational reading skills such as letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and decoding, which are critical for early literacy development.

  • FastBridge earlyMath (K-1) – Measures early numeracy skills, including number identification, counting, and basic operations, to ensure a strong mathematical foundation.

Reading and Math Progress Monitoring (1-5)

  • FastBridge Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) (1-5) – Provides frequent, short assessments to track students’ fluency and accuracy in reading and math, allowing teachers to adjust instruction as needed.

  • FastBridge aReading (2-5) – A computer-adaptive reading assessment that measures comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics to determine students’ overall reading proficiency.

  • FastBridge aMath (2-5) – A computer-adaptive math assessment that evaluates students' understanding of mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills.

  • FastBridge AUTOReading (2-5) – Assesses automaticity in reading, focusing on word recognition, decoding, and fluency to support literacy development.

State Accountability Assessments (3-10)

  • Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) – State-mandated assessments that measure student proficiency in core academic subjects:

    • MCA Reading (Grades 3-8, 10) – Assesses reading comprehension, vocabulary, and analytical skills.

    • MCA Math (Grades 3-8, 10) – Evaluates mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and fluency.

    • MCA Science (Grades 5, 8, 10) – Measures students' understanding of life, earth, and physical sciences as outlined in state standards.

Secondary Reading and Math Assessments (6-10)

  • STAR Reading (6-10) – A computer-adaptive reading assessment that measures students' reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall proficiency.

  • STAR Math (6-10) – Evaluates mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and fluency to track student progress in math skills.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

  • ACCESS for ELLs – Administered to English language learners (ELLs), this assessment measures proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English to ensure appropriate language support and instruction.

College, Career, and Postsecondary Readiness Assessments (9-12)

  • Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) (9-12) – A career and college exploration tool that helps students identify interests, explore postsecondary options, and develop career plans.

  • ACT (Grade 11) – A standardized test that assesses students’ readiness for college and career pathways, measuring skills in English, math, reading, science, and writing.

These assessments provide valuable data to help us identify student strengths, address areas for growth, and tailor instruction to meet individual learning needs. Our goal is to ensure that all students receive the support necessary to achieve academic success and reach their full potential.

For more information about our assessment program, please contact Robert Anderson, randerson@isd740.org.