Your student’s participation in Montana’s statewide assessments helps to ensure that all learners have access to a high-quality education. Statewide testing provides valuable information that helps improve instruction, allocate resources, and support student success.
These assessments are based on the Montana Comprehensive Assessment System, which includes a suite of required statewide assessments aligned to Montana’s academic content standards.
Testing sites will be secured by OpenEd; your family will be contacted to choose a date and a location from designated sites.
Take a look at the table below for an overview of Montana’s assessments and which grades they affect.
Assessment name | Which grades are eligible to take this assessment? | What is this assessment? | When is this assessment given? | Virtual or in-person? |
MAST Interim | Grades 3-8 and Grade 11 | The MAST (Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year) assessment is administered multiple times through the school year to assess students’ grade-level achievements in math and English. | This assessment is administered three times a year:
| In-person |
Renaissance - STAR | Grades K-8 | The goal of this assessment is to measure students’ grade-level achievements in reading and math. | We’ll have more information about this assessment soon. | In-person |
MAST Summative | Grades 3-8 and Grade 11 | This is the end-of-year component of the MAST program. | May 4th-May 22nd | In-person |
MSA Summative | Grades 5 and 8 | The MSA Summative assesses students’ grade-level achievements in science. | March 3rd-May 22nd | In-person |