PARENT BROCHURES

REQUIRED STATE TESTS
FOR 2007-08

MN Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-IIs); Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD); and the Basic Skills Tests (BSTs) – Students enrolled in grade 8 before the 2005-06 school year are required to pass the BST in reading, math and writing; students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2005-06 school year or later are required to pass the reading and mathematics MCA-IIs or GRAD and the writing GRAD. 

See Testing FAQ for more information

STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

FOR STUDENTS

21.5 course credits[i]

Total includes 7 elective credits. Students must also meet local requirements. Graduation credit requirements must be fully in place for the graduating class of 2007-08 unless otherwise noted.

See Credit Requirements, page 10, 2007 Omnibus E-12 Act Summary

Language Arts

·   MCA-II Reading - Grades 3-8, 10               

   GRAD – is embedded in the Reading MCA-II in grade 10

OR

·   Reading MN Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) - Grades 3-8, 10 for some students with IEPs

·     GRAD Written Composition - Grade 9; Retests (BST/GRAD) - Grades 10-12

AND

·     BST Reading retests - Grades 11-12 (or GRAD reading retests starting in the summer of 2008)

·   4 credits

·   Pass  GRAD Written Composition—Grade 9

·   Pass  MCA-II/GRAD Reading—Grade 10

Transition: Students who were enrolled in grade 8 before the 2005-06 school year must pass the Reading and Written Composition BSTs

Math

·   MCA-II Mathematics - Grades 3-8, 11

         GRAD will be embedded in Grade 11 in the 2008-09 school year

OR

·   Mathematics Test for English Language Learners

   (MTELL) - Grades 3-8, 11 (pending federal approval in

    fall 2007)

OR

·   Mathematics MN Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) - Grades 3-8, 11 for some students with IEPs

·   BST Mathematics retests - Grades 11-12

·   3 credits[ii], encompassing the algebra, geometry, and statistics and probability content sufficient to satisfy the academic standards

·   Pass  MCA-II/GRAD Mathematics—Grade 11 in 2009

Transition: Students who were enrolled in grade 8 before the 2005-06 school year must pass the Mathematics BST

Students in the class of 2015 must complete an Algebra I credit by the end of 8^th grade, and must also complete an Algebra II credit or its equivalent, in addition to the requirements above.

Arts

No state required tests

Locally selected assessments

1 credit²

Science

·   MCA-II Science - Grades 5, 8 and high school

Preferred administration of the high school test takes place after students have completed a life science course.

OR

·   Science MN Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) – Grades 5, 8 and high school for some students with IEPs.

3 credits², including one in biology

Note: An agriculture science or Career and Technical Education (CTE) course may fulfill a general science credit requirement.

Students in the class of 2015 must earn a biology credit and a chemistry or physics credit as part of the 3-credit requirement.

SUBJECT

REQUIRED STATE TESTS FOR 2007-08

and implementation dates for new tests

STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

FOR STUDENTS

21.5 course credits

Social Studies

No state required tests

Locally selected assessments

·         3.5 credits, encompassing U.S. history, geography, world history, economics, and government/citizenship     

                                       - or -

·         3 credits encompassing U.S. history, geography, world history, government/citizenship and a .5 credit in economics (taught in social studies, business, or agriculture education department)

Health/

Physical Education

No state required tests

Locally selected assessments

Local decision

Career

& Technical Education

No state required tests

Locally selected assessments

Local decision

World Languages

No state required tests

Locally selected assessments

Local decision

English Language Proficiency (ELP) [iii]

·         Test of Emerging Academic English (TEAE), a reading/writing proficiency test - Grades 3-12

·         K-2 Reading and Writing Checklist                  

·         MN Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (MN SOLOM), a listening and speaking language proficiency test - Grades K-12

LEP students are subject to the same graduation credit requirements as all students.