MDE Student Achievement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A district's MCA Reading results show a large gap between students with disabilities and the general population. Under ESSA, which plan component obligates the district to address this?
- Fiscal Monitoring Plan
- Equity and Student Support Plan
- Targeted Support and Improvement Plan (Correct answer)
- Professional Development Allocation Form
Correct answer: Targeted Support and Improvement Plan
When a subgroup such as students with disabilities consistently underperforms, the district must develop a Targeted Support and Improvement Plan outlining specific interventions.
Question 2: Which statistical method does Minnesota use to measure student academic growth on the MCA?
- Simple year-over-year score comparison
- Student Growth Percentile (SGP) (Correct answer)
- Norm-Referenced Growth Score
- Lexile Band Progression
Correct answer: Student Growth Percentile (SGP)
Minnesota uses the Student Growth Percentile (SGP) model, which compares a student's growth to academically similar peers across the state.
Question 3: For the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, which grade band first introduces algebraic thinking as a major domain in mathematics?
- Grades 1–2
- Grades 3–5
- Grades 6–8 (Correct answer)
- Grade 11
Correct answer: Grades 6–8
Algebraic reasoning becomes a dominant domain in the MCA Mathematics framework beginning in grades 6–8, building toward high school algebra standards.
Question 4: What does a Student Growth Percentile (SGP) of 65 indicate about a Minnesota student's performance?
- The student scored at the 65th percentile on the MCA
- The student grew more than 65% of academically similar peers (Correct answer)
- The student is 65% proficient on grade-level standards
- The student advanced 65 scale-score points since last year
Correct answer: The student grew more than 65% of academically similar peers
An SGP of 65 means the student demonstrated more growth than 65% of students with similar prior MCA scores, regardless of whether they are proficient.
Question 5: Which MDE assessment is the primary statewide measure of science achievement for Minnesota students?
- NAEP Science
- Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment–Science (MCA-Science) (Correct answer)
- ACT Science subscore
- PISA Science Literacy
Correct answer: Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment–Science (MCA-Science)
The MCA-Science is administered in grades 5, 8, and high school and serves as Minnesota's official accountability measure for science proficiency.
Question 6: Under Minnesota statutes, by what grade must students demonstrate reading proficiency or receive a Reading Intervention Plan?
- Grade 1
- Grade 3 (Correct answer)
- Grade 5
- Grade 6
Correct answer: Grade 3
Minnesota law requires that students who are not reading at grade level by the end of grade 3 receive a focused reading intervention plan.
Question 7: Which entity sets the proficiency cut scores used on the Minnesota MCA assessments?
- Individual school districts
- The U.S. Department of Education
- The Minnesota State Legislature
- The Minnesota Commissioner of Education with stakeholder input (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The Minnesota Commissioner of Education with stakeholder input
Cut scores are established through a standard-setting process led by MDE, involving educator panels and approved by the Commissioner of Education.
MDE Student Achievement 3
A district's MCA Reading results show a large gap between students with disabilities and the general population.
Under ESSA, which plan component obligates the district to address this?