Assessments and Grading

ACCESS Testing

All students identified as English Learners (EL) will be taking the ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS assessment between January and March. 

This assessment is a federal requirement to assess English proficiency for students learning English. There are four domains tested - Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. 

If you have questions, please contact the principal at your child’s school for specific dates and more information.

About ACCESS Testing

In order to follow federal and state mandates, all EL-identified students are given an English proficiency examination annually, even if they are not currently receiving English learner services. The test scores are used to make sure students are making progress in English through reading, writing, listening and speaking. The test is called the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State (ACCESS). This test helps teachers and schools understand how well students are learning English. 

The ACCESS  test includes questions about reading, writing and listening. The test is taken in a group setting with other students and includes a speaking assessment between each student and a teacher. The test will not be timed.

Your child will be tested during the regular school day either on a computer (online) or on paper as noted below. Our testing schedule:

Grades	Test
Kindergarten	Assessment: 60-90 minutes
Grades 1-12 (Online)	Listening: 65 minutes
Grades 1-12 (Online)	Reading: up to 90 minutes
Grades 1-12 (Online)	Speaking: 40-60 minutes
Grades 1-5 (Paper)	Writing: 65-90 minutes
Grades 6-12 (Online)	Writing: 65-90 minutes
Alternate ACESS test (for select students with an IEP)	Listening: 30 minutes Reading: 30 minutes Speaking: 30 minutes Writing: 30 minutes

 

ACT Testing

SoWashCo Schools administers the American College Test (the ACT) each year to students in grade 11. The test will be administered online at school on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Minnesota State Statute 120B.30 requires SoWashCo Schools to provide an opportunity for high school students to take a college entrance exam during the school day.  

ABOUT THE ACT

Why take the ACT? Here’s what you need to know: 

• The ACT is accepted by all US colleges and universities

• The ACT can help students get better scholarships

• The ACT provides college and career resources for each examinee

While some colleges are making the admissions process “test optional” at this time, here are some things to consider.  Taking the ACT enables you to: 

• Take the right classes

• Get more scholarships

• Qualify for specific programs

• Secure your admission. 

Read more here about why the ACT is right for you even if not every college is requiring a college entrance exam at this time.  Historically a college entrance exam, like the ACT, are required for admission into most colleges and are a large part of the admissions process. 

 

When students take the ACT test, high school educators and counselors receive valuable information for guidance and curriculum development. K-12 professionals use ACT reports to:

• Guide students toward college and career readiness

• Assist students with college and career planning

• Evaluate the effectiveness of instruction

• Plan changes and improvements in curriculum

 

Each time you take the ACT, you get a composite score that is an average of the results on the four subjects of the test: Math, Science, English and Reading. Composite scores range from 1-36. For each subject you’ll see your readiness for first year college courses in the corresponding subjects.   Sample score report.

 

The ACT Resources for Examinees

• Information for Examinees on act.org

• MyACT Account Setup Instructions

• Preparing for the ACT Test

• Using Your ACT Results

• Using Your ACT Results (Spanish)

 

2024 ACT Information

Attendance and Materials

All students must attend school on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 to take the ACT. Registration is not required. There will not be a make-up opportunity. 

• Students at East Ridge High School, Park High School, SoWashCo Online, and Woodbury High School should report to their testing location by 8:30 a.m. 

• South Washington Alternative High School students should report to their testing location by 8:45 a.m.

• Students arriving at their testing location after 8:50 a.m. will not be admitted due to ACT testing rules.

• Students should come with their ACT approved calculator, a writing utensil, photo ID, and their school-issued chromebook charged and ready. 

 

Schedule, meals and transportation

• School start times will remain the same. 

• Students will test until approximately 1 p.m. with one 15-minute break. A snack will be provided at break time and students may also bring a snack of their own.

• Lunch will be available after testing is complete. 

• Students will be dismissed and have the option to leave school at the conclusion of testing; students who choose to remain in the building will be directed to a supervised area. Bus transportation via regular routes will be available at the regular high school dismissal times.

 

Test results  

Students are encouraged to sign up for a free MyACT account to access scores early. Students with an account can view their scores online before score reports are mailed out. At the latest, accounts must be created two days after testing. 

Contact your principal for more specific information about ACT testing at your school. 

All students in grade 2 will take the CogAT Assessment in their classrooms during the testing window, Oct. 23 to Nov. 17, 2023   

This assessment measures a student's reasoning and problem solving skills in three areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning.  The assessment is a part of a balanced assessment system used in South Washington County Schools.  Some important ways we use CogAT data are: 

• to help teachers develop the best learning plan for each child and support their unique learning needs, and

• as part of screening all students for additional Talent Development and Advanced Academic Services in conjunction with the Measures for Academic Progress (MAP) reading and math.

To learn more about the CogAT and how we use the results in SoWashCo, visit the Talent Development’s webpage.

SoWashCo Schools administers the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth assessment each year in grades 2-8 for both Reading and Math as a part of a balanced assessment system. This year the assessment will be given between Sept. 11 and Oct. 13 for grades 2-8.  Middle schools will administer the assessment again in the winter between Jan. 8 and Feb. 7 to students in grades 6-8.  

 

Results of the MAP growth assessments are used to:

• Identify current skill levels and the rate of academic growth over time.

• Determine individual strengths and areas of growth to help with instructional planning.

• Identify students to receive Advanced Learner Services,

• Identify or exit students from reading and/or math interventions.

• Place students in the appropriate 6th and 8th grade math courses.

Learn more about the assessment in this Family Guide to MAP Growth (other languages).

SoWashCo Schools administers the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) each year. Students who receive special education services and meet eligibility criteria may take the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) test as an alternative. Most students will take the MCA online during the school day. 

About the MCA/MTAS

The MCA/MTAS assesses students’ knowledge of academic, grade-level standards in reading, mathematics, and science. The test results are a source of information for us to evaluate our services, supports, programs, and classroom instruction. The MCA/MTAS assessment results are used by many people for multiple purposes. Some examples include: 

• High school students can use MCA results to skip remedial coursework at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, as well as to enroll in the Post-secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program.

• Families use the data to track and understand their child/ren’s progress in learning grade-level standards. 

• Teachers use the data to inform their instruction and assess student learning.

• District and school staff members use the results to assess academic achievement trends over time and identify inequities across student groups. 

• The MN Department of Education uses MCA data as an academic indicator in the North Star accountability system. The system identifies schools and districts that need support to improve student outcomes, ensures that accountability indicators are publicly reported, and recognizes schools and districts that have implemented successful strategies.

• Policymakers use results to identify gaps in services and programming needs within communities.

Participation

Students in the following grades participate in the MCA/MTAS:

• Reading: Grades 3-8, 10

• Mathematics: Grades 3-8, and 11

• Science: Grades 5 and 8, and any high school student taking a life science or biology course

Participation in MCA/MTAS testing is important so that we have accurate data to assess how students are learning academic standards and determine which academic areas we need to improve instruction in. Testing dates for each school are posted in the District Testing Calendar before the school year begins. 

We recognize that the MCA/MTAS testing window overlaps with a number of religious observances and holy days. SoWashCo Schools is committed to honoring and being responsive to the needs of all families and students. Please contact your child’s school if you have concerns or questions about school testing dates and times, needed accommodations, and/or your student’s participation in MCA/MTAS testing.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has the following resources to learn more about the assessments:

• Student Participation in statewide assessments

• MCA Parent Fact Sheets

  • English

  • Spanish

  • Hmong

  • Vietnamese

  • Chinese Mandarin

  • Somali

• MTAS Parent Fact Sheets

  • English

  • Spanish

  • Hmong

  • Vietnamese

  • Chinese Mandarin

  • Somali

• Additional translated Documents

The Seal of Biliteracy is a language proficiency award that students earn which reflects their proficiency in two or more languages as measured on the national scale of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Students are assessed in all four language domains (reading, writing, listening and speaking) using proficiency assessments from an approved list provided by the Minnesota Department of Education. The scores students receive can qualify them for one of three award levels. There is no cost to students to test for the Seal of Biliteracy. Testing is scheduled in the spring at your student’s school for most languages.

The Seal is awarded to students who demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English (regardless of how the language was learned), and also demonstrate proficiency in the English language by earning all required English Language Arts (ELA) credits in high school (four years of high school credit earned). Currently, eligible languages for MN’s Seal of Biliteracy program include: Amharic, American Sign Language, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Dakota/Lakota, Dari, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Latin, Ojibwe, Oromo, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. However, So WashCo does not administer testing for every eligible language. Students who want to test in Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, Latin, Tamil, and Thai should contact Dr. Mao Thao Jacobson (mjacobso1@sowashco.org, 651-425-6228) for more information about where and how to test. Testing for Tamil can be taken with the MN Tamil School (typically in May) or Twin Cities Tamil Padasalai.

SoWashCo will cover the cost of testing in one language per school year. If students would like to test in multiple languages in one school year, students and families will need to pay for the cost of additional tests. Students and families may also be charged for any late cancellation fees for testing in American Sign Language.

College credit through Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU) may be awarded. Anywhere from 2-4 semester credits may be earned depending on the level of the seal/certificate earned. 

Award	Criteria in all four modalities — listening, reading, speaking and writing	Number of college credits earned
Bilingual Platinum Seal	ACTFL Advanced Low	4 semesters
Bilingual Gold Seal	ACTFL Intermediate High	3 semesters
World Language Proficiency Certificate	ACTFL Intermediate Low	2 semesters

The following scores on Advanced Placement (AP) Language assessments correlate to the following proficiency levels*:

• Score of 3 -  Intermediate-low proficiency level (World Language proficiency seal), 2 semesters’ credit 

• Score of 4 -  Intermediate-high proficiency level (Gold Seal), 3 semesters’ credit 

• Score of 5 -  Advanced-low proficiency level (Platinum Seal), 4 semesters’ credit 

*The AP Spanish Language and Culture exam does qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy; the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam does not qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. College in the Schools (CIS) language courses earn college credit through the University of Minnesota (UMN) for grades of C or better. The UMN does not recognize the Seal of Biliteracy award for college credit.

 

A score of on International Baccalaureate (IB) assessments correlate to the following proficiency levels:

Language B:

SL Scores 3; HL Score 2 - World Language Proficiency Certificate

SL Score 4; HL Score 3, 4—Gold Seal

SL Score 5, 6, 7; HL Score 5, 6, 7—Platinum Seal

Language A (non-English Language):

SL Score 2; HL Score 2—World Language Proficiency Certificate

SL Score 3; HL Score 3—Gold Seal

SL Score 4, 5, 6, 7; HL Score 4, 5, 6, 7—Platinum Seal

 

Benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy

• Students receive recognition of students’ bilingual/bicultural or multilingual/multicultural identity.

• Students can earn college credits at Minnesota State College and Universities (Minnesota State). Minnesota State does not include the University of Minnesota.

• The Seal provides credentials for job and internship opportunities.

• The Seal provides recognition on college entrance applications.  

 

Eligibility Criteria For Testing

Testing for the Seal of Biliteracy is voluntary. Students in grades 11th and 12th are eligible to participate. Students must pass all four years of English Language Arts in order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. In addition, students must show proficiency in all four domains of an additional language. In supporting your student in their decision to test, ACTFL’s guidelines on what learners can do at different proficiency levels will be helpful to review:

• Platinum Seal (advanced low) Can-do statements

• Gold Seal (intermediate high) & World Language Proficiency Certificate (intermediate low) Can-do statements

 

Registration Information: 

Registration is open during the month of January. Registration links are sent to students’ school email. Please contact Mao Thao Jacobson, Director of Program Evaluation, Research and Assessment at mjacobso1@sowashco.org or 651-425-6228 for more information.