Assessment and TestingAccountability Programs : 
Current Topics
Research and Assessment
The Research and Assessment division is responsible for the development and implementation of a coherent assessment system that measures student knowledge and skills on Minnesota Academic Standards and the Minnesota English Language Proficiency Standards. The system meets state and federal requirements and provides timely information that educators can use to inform curricular and instructional decisions that improve student achievement.
Training for District Staff
Pearson will offer two webinars in February and March to help districts prepare to administer Minnesota’s computer-delivered assessments. For more information or to register for either webinar, email Rebecca.Bacon@Pearson.com.
Online Test Management in PearsonAccess is for District Assessment Coordinators and other assessment staff responsible for the administrative aspects of setting up and managing online student testing.
Technical Training: Preparing Computers for Online Testing is for District Technology Coordinators and staff who are responsible for installing and configuring Pearson’s online testing software on computers used to deliver online tests.
Recorded versions of these trainings will also be available. For a list of all assessment-related on-demand training resources, including the January Pretest Workshops, please visit the Assessment Training Resources Web page in our Professional Development section.
Future of Human-Scored Constructed-Response Items in MCA Series
The use of human-scored constructed-response items in the Reading and Mathematics MCA-II is changing. Read more about the future use of constructed-response test items.
Contact Information
If you have a question about any of the statewide assessments, please contact the person that serves your area code:
218 & 320: Julie Nielsen-Fuhrmann, 651-582-8837
507 & 952: Roger Anderson, 651-582-8841
651 & 763: Tracy Cerda, 651-582-8692
612: Jennifer Burton, 651-582-8622
MDE E-mail Updates