FCS State and District Assessments 2024-2025
By Alli Bristow, High School Counselor and School Test Coordinator
Many parents have questions about the types of assessments at public schools and how to interpret their students' data. These questions include: What does the test measure? Is this test required? How is my child doing? When will I get their results? Many of these resources can also be found on Montana’s Office of Public Instruction website under “Statewide Testing” and “Montana Comprehensive Assessment System.”
FCS updates our assessment calendar annually. Please check back often, as some dates may change.
Click Here for our FCS Assessment Calendar 2024-2025
District Level Assessments
NWEA MAPS for Math and English Language Arts
All students in grades 3-10; Spring and Fall sessions in classrooms
Teachers use MAPS assessment in Elementary through High School to monitor student progress and set specific learning goals. If you have any questions about your students' scores feel free to contact either their Math or ELA teacher to share their latest MAPS scores and projections.
MAPS Family Toolkit for Parents
State Level Assessments
PSAT- High School Optional only!!
October 28, 2024
Fee $18 to FCS
Signup in the HS office by October 16th, 2024
This year's PSAT date is October 28th, and the signup deadline is October 16th, 2024. There is an $18 test fee, with checks made out to FCS. Please sign up and pay in the High School Office with Rachel. Also, please let me know ASAP if you are experiencing financial hardship and need payment assistance.
Click HERE for more general information on the PSAT digital, including Why Take the PSAT?
Students with Disabilities taking the PSAT: If you are signing up for the PSAT, contact your 504 or IEP case manager ASAP to request accommodations. Homeschool infor is linked as well.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10
New*** 2024-2025 is the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) Grades 3-8
The Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) Program features a series of short, standards-aligned math and ELA tests that are administered throughout the year.
For MAST information for Teachers, Students, and Parents, click HERE
Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)
The Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) is the ELA and math alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities provided in place of the statewide MAST Assessment in grades 3-8 and the ACT with Writing test in grade 11.
School Wide Assessment Plans
All public schools are required to provide an assessment plan to the Office of Public Instruction on how they will assess their students on adequate yearly progress of state academic achievement standards. SBAC assessments are summative and, therefore, are given in the Springtime in grades 3-8. Please contact your building-level counselor with any questions on SBAC results. SBAC scores for your student can be found on your Infinite Campus Portal under the tab Assessment.
For help interpreting your child’s report, please visit the Starting Smarter website designed for parents/families to understand the assessment results. Here are some highlights for this student report:
● Students receive a separate scale score for math and reading/language arts.
● Scale scores are reported with different ranges for math and reading/language arts.
● Claim descriptions indicate performance on groups of questions that measure similar skills.
Students who will be taking the Montana State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) will have an individualized assessment with Special Education Teacher, Judie Fisher. Please contact her for any questions on MSAA schedule assessment dates for your student to fisherj@florence.k12.mt.us or 406-273-6751 ex 2205.
The local board of trustees shall ensure that the school district complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations (ARM 10.55.701). Should the district have a policy on processing parental refusals, this policy may be cited as an enclosure. However, there is no “opt out” law in Montana, and both state law and accreditation rules require all students in public and accredited non-public schools to participate in state testing. Per the OPI’s policies and federal reporting, only students with documented “medical exemptions” make be excluded from participating, meaning all other instances of non-participation (or absence) impact the school’s participation rates.
Science
Montana Science Assessment and Alternate Montana Science Assessment (AMSA)
Grades 5 and 8 only in Science classrooms
English Language Proficiency Assessment
ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener is the English Language Proficiency assessment for academic achievement reporting for English Learners (EL) in Grades K–12. Registration for any student has a Limited English Proficiency Questionnaire embedded in the enrollment form. If you have any questions about this process please contact your school register or Alli Bristow, Middle School Counselor and School Testing Coordinator.
ACT with Writing
General math, reading/language arts, and science assessment for academic achievement reporting in Grade 11 only. Click HERE for ACT resources online.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Grades 7-12
Spring 2025 TBA
https://opi.mt.gov/Leadership/Data-Reporting/Youth-Ri
ASVAB (Career Exploration)
Grade 11
Free!
Spring 2025 Date TBD
https://www.officialasvab.com/
AP Exams
2024-2025
The 2025 AP Exams will be administered over two weeks in May: May 5–9 and May 12–16.
See AP exam fees for your student on signups. Please contact Ms. Bristow if you have a need for fee assistance for AP exams.
Please see your AP teacher for signup information with a QR code and specific testing dates.
https://myap.collegeboard.org/
Accommodations
Do you have questions about 504 assessment accommodations for your student? Please contact me or your student's IEP case manager.
Additional Assessment resources and information for parents
Montana's List of 14 Critical Non-Test Questions.
Six Things Stakeholders Should Know About Participation and Testing in Montana