MDE Assessment Framework 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes a formative assessment in the MDE framework?
- A high-stakes test administered at the end of the school year
- An ongoing process used to monitor student learning and adjust instruction (Correct answer)
- A standardized exam scored by an external agency
- A cumulative portfolio reviewed only by the principal
Correct answer: An ongoing process used to monitor student learning and adjust instruction
Formative assessment is an ongoing process embedded in instruction that helps teachers monitor progress and adjust teaching strategies.
Question 2: Under Minnesota state law, which body is primarily responsible for establishing statewide academic standards?
- Local school boards
- The Minnesota Legislature
- The Minnesota Department of Education (Correct answer)
- The Governor's office
Correct answer: The Minnesota Department of Education
The Minnesota Department of Education is responsible for developing and maintaining statewide academic standards that guide curriculum and assessment.
Question 3: A district wants to compare its student performance to national norms. Which type of assessment would BEST serve this purpose?
- Criterion-referenced assessment
- Norm-referenced assessment (Correct answer)
- Diagnostic assessment
- Authentic assessment
Correct answer: Norm-referenced assessment
Norm-referenced assessments compare individual or group scores to a nationally representative sample (norming group).
Question 4: What does 'validity' mean in the context of educational assessment?
- The consistency of scores across repeated administrations
- The extent to which an assessment measures what it is intended to measure (Correct answer)
- The degree to which items are free from bias
- The speed at which results are reported to stakeholders
Correct answer: The extent to which an assessment measures what it is intended to measure
Validity refers to whether an assessment actually measures the intended construct or skill it is designed to assess.
Question 5: Which MDE assessment is used to identify English learners who qualify for language support services?
- MCA-III
- WIDA ACCESS (Correct answer)
- MTAS
- NAEP
Correct answer: WIDA ACCESS
The WIDA ACCESS for ELLs is Minnesota's state-required English language proficiency assessment used to place and monitor English learners.
Question 6: A school reports that its MCA reading scores show a performance gap between subgroups. Under ESSA, what must the school do?
- Ignore the gap if the school overall meets proficiency targets
- Identify the school for targeted support and improvement (Correct answer)
- Administer a different assessment to the subgroup
- Suspend reporting for that subgroup until scores improve
Correct answer: Identify the school for targeted support and improvement
Under ESSA, persistent achievement gaps between student subgroups trigger targeted support and improvement requirements for schools.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)?
- To rank individual teachers based on classroom performance
- To measure student proficiency against Minnesota Academic Standards (Correct answer)
- To determine school funding allocations directly
- To certify that students have met graduation requirements
Correct answer: To measure student proficiency against Minnesota Academic Standards
MCAs are criterion-referenced tests designed to measure how well students meet Minnesota Academic Standards in reading, mathematics, and science.
MDE Assessment Framework 2
Which of the following BEST describes a formative assessment in the MDE framework?