Testing and Assessment 

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments

MCA II tests in Reading and Math are given each year in April and are required by the Minnesota Department of Education. Results of Reading and Math tests are used to track the school's Adequate Yearly Progress. Click here to access your personalized Learning Locator information. Your personal "learning locator" is printed on your individual MCA II reports that were mailed home in August. You can help your child improve by selecting online activities and resources appropriate to their skill level. If you would like to opt out of MCA testing, you must fill out this form and return it to the LJA office.

Fastbridge Testing

Fastbridge testing is a quick way to get benchmark data for student performance. Students take Fastbridge tests in Math and Reading, as well as a Social Emotional Survey, to help us make decisions on student interventions/enrichments. Students take these tests 3 times a year, fall, winter, and spring. These screening tests are connected to additional Progress Monitoring tests that we use to frequently track student progress in intervention areas. More information on Fastbridge testing can be found at www.fastbridge.org

Capti ReadBasix Screener

The Capti ReadBasix Screener is a research-based literacy assessment designed to help educators better understand the specific reading skills that contribute to a scholar’s overall reading performance. The screener assesses areas such as word recognition and decoding, vocabulary, morphology, sentence processing, reading efficiency, and reading comprehension.

All scholars are given the Capti ReadBasix Screener each fall as part of LJA’s schoolwide literacy assessment process. The results help LJA's educators identify each scholar’s reading strengths and areas that may require additional support.

Scholars who are identified through the screener as not yet ready to access reading at grade level will receive additional literacy interventions and supports targeted to their individual needs. Capti ReadBasix results are considered alongside classroom performance, teacher observations, and other assessment data to guide instructional decisions, intervention planning, and ongoing progress monitoring.

WIDA ACCESS Assessment

The WIDA ACCESS assessment is given annually to scholars who are identified as English Learners. ACCESS measures scholars’ academic English language proficiency in four areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Results help LJA understand each scholar’s English language development, monitor growth over time, and guide appropriate language instruction and supports.

ACCESS is a required statewide assessment for English Learners in grades K–12. Scholars who receive special education services and meet specific eligibility criteria may participate in the WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessment.

Testing Schedule

MCA Tests:

Scholars will take their MCA tests in their Math, LASS and Science classes.

• Reading: March 16-18

• Math: April 20-22

• Science (Grades 5 and 8): April 27-29

• Make-Ups: Reading & Math - April 27-29; Science - May 4-6

Parent/Guardian Guide & Refusal for Student Participation in Statewide Testing

Fastbridge testing

Students take Fastbridge tests 3 times a year in Math & Reading. The tests are used to inform intervention decisions and to track students’ growth in these areas.

• Fall: September 15 & 16

• Winter: January 12, 13 & 14

• Spring: May 19 & 20

CAPTi Readbasix Screener

• September 17

WIDA ACCESS

• Listening & Reading: February 16-17

• Speaking & Writing: February 23-24

• Make-Ups: March 1-5