MDE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield MDE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A school's reading proficiency rate increased from 60% to 72% over three years. What is the percentage point gain? → 12 percentage points
2. What is the primary purpose of a data team or Professional Learning Community (PLC) in Minnesota schools? → To collaboratively analyze student data and refine instructional practices
3. In educational assessment, which term describes data expressed in numerical form that can be statistically analyzed? → Quantitative data
4. Which of the following subjects are tested on the ACT? → English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing (optional)
5. Which of the following students would typically take the MTAS? → Students with significant cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in the MCA
6. Why is continuing education important in Special Education? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
7. Why is continuing education important in Accountability Systems? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
8. Which approach to data use is considered MOST effective for continuously improving student outcomes? → Using multiple data sources over time to inform ongoing instructional decisions
9. What is the main purpose of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)? → To assess students' knowledge and skills in core subjects
10. Which domains of language proficiency are assessed in the ACCESS for ELLs test? → Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing
11. What is the primary purpose of the ACT? → To assess a student's knowledge in core academic areas and readiness for college
12. What is the relationship between theory and practice in Special Education? → Theory provides the foundation; practice applies it to real situations
13. What role does ethics play in Educational Policy practice? → It guides professional conduct and protects stakeholders
14. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme outlier scores in a data set? → Mean
15. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Student Achievement? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
16. What role does ethics play in Student Achievement practice? → It guides professional conduct and protects stakeholders
17. How does documentation support quality in Special Education? → It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement
18. Why is continuing education important in Educational Policy? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
19. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Educational Policy? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
20. When a school's score distribution shows a bimodal pattern, what does this typically indicate? → There are two distinct groups of students performing at different levels
21. What role does ethics play in State Standards practice? → It guides professional conduct and protects stakeholders
22. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in State Standards? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
23. What type of questions are most commonly found on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)? → Multiple-choice, short-answer, and constructed-response questions
24. When using data to improve instruction, what should educators do FIRST? → Identify a clear question or problem the data should help answer
25. What is the relationship between theory and practice in Accountability Systems? → Theory provides the foundation; practice applies it to real situations
26. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Teacher Certification? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
27. What is the passing score on the MCA tests? → The passing score varies by grade and subject and is determined by state standard
28. How does documentation support quality in Curriculum Alignment? → It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement
29. How does documentation support quality in State Standards? → It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement
30. How does documentation support quality in Student Achievement? → It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement