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. What does 'alignment' mean when evaluating an assessment's quality? → The degree to which assessment items match the intended standards and curriculum
2. Under Minnesota law, what is the maximum class size for kindergarten in a school district receiving class-size reduction aid? → 20 students
3. Under Minnesota law, in which grade do students first take the MCA Science assessment? → Grade 5
4. A Minnesota Focus school is primarily characterized by which of the following? → A significant achievement gap between the highest- and lowest-performing subgroups
5. Which MDE science standard framework emphasizes three-dimensional learning aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards approach? → Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Science (2019)
6. Which suffix changes the adjective 'beauty' into a noun in standard English? → -ful
7. At what grade level do Minnesota students typically take the PSAT 8/9? → Grades 8 or 9
8. Which Minnesota statewide assessment is specifically designed to measure English Language Arts and mathematics proficiency for students in grades 3–8 and 10? → MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments)
9. What is the composite score range for the ACT? → 1–36
10. A Minnesota licensed teacher is found guilty of a felony unrelated to their teaching duties. What action can PELSB take? → PELSB may revoke, suspend, or place conditions on the teacher's license
11. Which MDE assessment is used to identify English learners who qualify for language support services? → WIDA ACCESS
12. In Minnesota's ELA standards, the term 'text complexity' refers to which combination of factors? → Quantitative, qualitative, and reader-task considerations
13. Under the MCA accessibility framework, which accommodation is considered a universal tool available to ALL Minnesota students without prior documentation? → Scratch paper
14. Which Minnesota agency administers the MTLE exams on behalf of the state? → Pearson
15. How are Minnesota CCR assessment results reported to families? → Through individual student score reports that include benchmarks and next steps
16. A school's reading proficiency rate increased from 60% to 72% over three years. What is the percentage point gain? → 12 percentage points
17. 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
18. In Minnesota, who has the legal right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense? → The parents/guardians of the student
19. A curriculum team is using a 'backwards design' approach aligned with MDE expectations. What is the correct order of steps? → Identify standards/outcomes → Design assessments → Plan instruction
20. Minnesota requires all licensed teachers to complete what every five years to renew their license? → 125 clock hours of continuing professional development
21. In educational assessment, which term describes data expressed in numerical form that can be statistically analyzed? → Quantitative data
22. Which federal law provides the current framework for Minnesota's school accountability system as of 2026? → Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
23. Which of the following subjects are tested on the ACT? → English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing (optional)
24. Which of the following students would typically take the MTAS? → Students with significant cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in the MCA
25. A student writes 'He runned to the store.' This error is best described as: → Overgeneralization of the regular past tense rule
26. Which of the following is an example of a 'diagnostic assessment'? → A pre-unit test used to identify specific skill gaps before instruction begins
27. Minnesota's Q Comp program provides alternative teacher compensation to districts that meet certain requirements. Which element is NOT required under Q Comp? → A teacher seniority-based salary schedule as the sole pay structure
28. Why is continuing education important in Special Education? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
29. Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'cut scores' in Minnesota statewide assessments? → Predetermined score points that separate performance levels such as 'Meets' from 'Exceeds'
30. Why is continuing education important in Accountability Systems? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices