SerpApi.Org
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced that 70 schools in 45 school districts across Minnesota will participate in a pilot program to test out a new kindergarten assessment.
This assessment was approved by the Minnesota state legislature in 2023.
Education officials say the assessment is not a standardized test, but a series of observations from trained professionals, teachers and school staff who will assess student activity in the classroom.
This assessment will go deeper than just making sure students know their numbers and letters.
MDE officials say the purpose of the assessment is to observe students to see how they interact with the lessons, their teacher and the other students in the classroom, and to see if there is anything the teachers can change to make sure every student can adjust to life in school.
"It's going to give teachers an opportunity to observe their children in their classroom routines in ways we haven't asked before,” MDE Director of Early Education Danielle Hayden said.
The observations will also look at every student's unique learning style and personal needs, and this information will be shared with teachers and parents to create a long-term plan for their students.
Alida Acosta is with the Tri-City United School District in Montgomery, one of the districts that volunteered for the pilot program this school year.
She says the assessments will likely create more work for teachers and staff, but she feels it will be worth it, so they can help students transition into kindergarten so they don't fall behind.
"This really allows us to look at that other side and get really good data on how students are learning, their emotional regulation, their social development,” Acosta said.
At the Tri-City United School District, Acosta says they will test out the assessment on around 160 kindergarten students who are enrolled at three of their schools.
MDE says the assessment will be rolled out to every school district in Minnesota in 2027.
Here is a full list of school districts and charter schools participating in the pilot program this upcoming school year:
Districts
- Alexandria Public School District
- Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools
- Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian Public School District
- Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Public Schools
- Duluth Public Schools
- Eastern Carver County Public Schools
- Eden Prairie Public School District
- Faribault Public School District
- Fergus Falls Public School District
- Glencoe-Silver Lake School District
- Hayfield Public School District
- Hill City Public School District
- Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public School District
- Kelliher Public School District
- Kittson Central School District
- Lakeville Area Schools
- Martin County West School District
- Minneapolis Public School District
- Moorhead Area Public School District
- Mounds View Public School District
- Northland Community Schools
- Osseo Public School District
- Owatonna Public Schools
- Pine City Public School District
- Pine Island Public School District
- Proctor Public School District
- RTR Public Schools
- Sleepy Eye Public School District
- Tri-City United School District
- Triton School District
- Underwood Public School District
- Waconia Public School District
- Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Schools
- West Saint Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools
Charter Schools
- Aspen Academy
- Cornerstone Montessori Elementary
- FIT Academy
- Global Academy
- Harvest Best Academy
- Hmong College Prep Academy
- Hope Community Academy
- Kaleidoscope Charter School
- Minnesota State Academies
- Oak Hill Montessori Community School
- Swan River Montessori Charter School
