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Data & Assessments
Data and Assessments
PACT uses assessment and growth data to guide instruction, support student learning, and clearly communicate progress to families. Our goal is to ensure every student receives the academic support they need.
Understanding Why Testing Matters 
The state uses student proficiency data from standardized tests to identify schools that may need extra support and to recognize those showing strong academic growth. When students opt out of testing, they are marked as “not proficient” by the state, which significantly lowers the reported proficiency levels.
This affects several areas, including:
- How colleges assess student readiness
- How families and educators interpret student academic progress
- Perceptions of school enrollment and charter schools
In other words, these results do not always accurately reflect a child’s actual abilities because some students did not participate.
PACT Students Perform Well – When They Test
At nearly every grade level, PACT students score at or above state averages in both math and reading. However, opt-out rates have made it difficult to demonstrate this success clearly.
In the spring of 2024, between 5% and 6% of middle school students chose not to take the MCA tests. At the high school level, that number increased to 10-11%. As a result, reported proficiency rates fell by more than 10% in math and 9% in reading, making it seem as though PACT students were underperforming compared to their state peers, even though they were actually performing at or above the state average.
Understanding Common Concerns About Standardized Testing
Across the country, some groups have encouraged families to opt out of standardized testing, sometimes without fully understanding the consequences. For example, some concerns focus on the potential racial bias in standardized assessments.
Standardized tests, when used correctly, provide valuable information that helps our schools evaluate whether we are offering rigorous, high-quality instruction to every student.
Our Assessment Program
PACT uses a variety of tests and assessments to measure student performance and progress, including district measurement systems, national rankings, and state-mandated testing. Teachers and administrators use assessments to monitor student progress and gain a long-term perspective on gains and proficiency. Assessment results are tracked for every student and viewed by teachers, who use them to tailor their instructional approaches and help create challenging yet attainable goals for students.
Universal Screeners are a vital part of supporting every student’s learning; a check-up for learning. During this process, all students take a quick assessment that shows how they are doing in key skills compared to grade-level expectations. This helps educators identify who is meeting or exceeding expectations and who may need extra support. Additionally, this information provides teachers with insight into the effectiveness of core classroom instruction and additional supports, including tiered interventions and special education services, enabling them to plan lessons and interventions that meet the needs of all students.
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Progress monitoring is the systematic, ongoing collection and analysis of student performance data to guide instructional decisions and practices, and to improve learning outcomes for students. Progress monitoring assessments are short, frequent, and targeted, used to evaluate how well a student is responding to instruction or intervention over time. Through consistent progress monitoring, educators can ensure that instructional supports are adequate and that each student continues to make meaningful progress. PACT uses the following progress monitoring tools:
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According to the Minnesota Department of Education (2025), “Diagnostic assessments, sometimes called analytic assessment, identify key skills a student needs to be successful on the current or next unit’s learning goals and provide information to adapt the instructional practices and intervention program to meet the student’s individual needs better.” They are targeted evaluations designed to identify a student’s specific strengths and areas of need related to key skills or concepts. The information from these assessments guides instructional planning and provides teachers with direction to tailor lessons, supports, and interventions to meet individual learning needs.
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Universal Screeners are a vital part of supporting every student’s learning; a check-up for learning. During this process, all students take a quick assessment that shows how they are doing in key skills compared to grade-level expectations. This helps educators identify who is meeting or exceeding expectations and who may need extra support. Additionally, this information provides teachers with insight into the effectiveness of core classroom instruction and additional supports, including tiered interventions and special education services, enabling them to plan lessons and interventions that meet the needs of all students.
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Progress monitoring is the systematic, ongoing collection and analysis of student performance data to guide instructional decisions and practices, and to improve learning outcomes for students. Progress monitoring assessments are short, frequent, and targeted, used to evaluate how well a student is responding to instruction or intervention over time. Through consistent progress monitoring, educators can ensure that instructional supports are adequate and that each student continues to make meaningful progress. PACT uses the following progress monitoring tools:
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According to the Minnesota Department of Education (2025), “Diagnostic assessments, sometimes called analytic assessment, identify key skills a student needs to be successful on the current or next unit’s learning goals and provide information to adapt the instructional practices and intervention program to meet the student’s individual needs better.” They are targeted evaluations designed to identify a student’s specific strengths and areas of need related to key skills or concepts. The information from these assessments guides instructional planning and provides teachers with direction to tailor lessons, supports, and interventions to meet individual learning needs.
Hear From Our Teachers!
Resources
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The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has provided the following information to be shared with families:
The statewide assessments are how Minnesota measures that curriculum, and daily instruction in schools is being aligned with the academic standards, ensuring all students receive an equitable education. MDE has created these parent resources that answer questions about each statewide assessment:- MCA Parent Fact Sheet (ENGLISH)
- MCA Parent Fact Sheet (SPANISH)
- MCA Parent Fact Sheet SOMALI
- MCA Parent Fact Sheet HMONG
- MCA Parent Fact Sheet ARABIC
- MTAS Parent Fact Sheet
- ACCESS Parent Fact Sheet
Testing CalendarIn accordance with Minnesota Statute 120B.301 subd.(c), posted below is the PACT Charter Schools Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) Testing Schedule. Please consult your student's school or teacher communications for exact dates and times for testing.
Student Participation in Statewide Assessments
Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31, subdivision 4a. Student Participation requires MDE to publish a form for parents/guardians to complete if they refuse to have their student participate in state-required standardized assessments, and for districts to include MDE’s form on their district website. The Parent/Guardian Guide to Statewide Testing provides basic information to help parents/guardians make informed decisions that benefit their child, school, and community. The form to meet this legislative requirement is available at the link below:
PACT Charter Schools will also accept, from a parent or guardian, a written letter or email requesting that their student not participate in Minnesota Assessments. It is helpful to include the test name/subject and the reason for not participating, as PACT must submit this information to the Minnesota Department of Education.
For more information on the Statewide Testing, visit the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Statewide Testing for Students and Families Webpage.
Minnesota Report Card
The results on statewide testing, including the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments and the ACCESS for the ELs 2.0, as well as other demographic information and performance indicators, are published annually in the MN Report Card.
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Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act, known as the READ Act, ensures every Minnesota child is reading at or above grade level every year, beginning in kindergarten, and supports multilingual learners and students receiving special education services in achieving their individualized reading goals to meet grade-level proficiency.
- Access and read the full legislation under Minnesota Session Law, Chapter 55, Article 3, READ Act.
- Updated information from READ Act 2.0 is available under Minnesota Statutes 2023, section 120B.12.
The READ Act requires mandatory screening of every child in kindergarten, first, second, and third grade using a screening tool approved by the Department of Education. PACT will administer FastBridge (Renaissance) as an MDE-approved Literacy Screener for grades K-3.
The Minnesota READ Act (Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.12, subdivision 2) requires screening for characteristics of dyslexia in grades 4-12 for those who do not demonstrate mastery of foundational reading skills. Students in grades 4-12 who do not demonstrate mastery of foundational reading skills (including phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, and oral language) must be screened for characteristics of dyslexia using a screening tool approved by the Department of Education. PACT will administer Capti ReadGasix as the MDE-approved Literacy Screener for grades 4-12. Families of students in grades 4-12 can opt out of Capti ReadBasix screening by completing an opt-out form.
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The Minnesota Student Survey has been conducted in schools across our state every three years since 1989. This helpful information about students’ thoughts and behaviors helps communities and schools develop effective programs and provide better services for students.
Our school district will invite students in the 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grades to participate in February 2025. The survey questions cover many topics related to young people’s lives. The survey asks about
- How is school going
- Future plans
- Out-of-school activities
- Physical and mental health
- Relationships
- Substance use
- Sexual behavior (high school students only)
The survey is administered online. Students may read the questions or have them read aloud through the technology they use to access the survey.
The survey will take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete. Several questions will appear only if a previous question is answered in a certain way. This means most students will not be asked all the questions.
Families are welcome to review a copy of the 2026 Survey. Surveys are available for review in each school office (during office hours) or at the PACT Charter School, 7250 East Ramsey Parkway NW, Ramsey, MN 55303 (between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily). Families may also request a copy of the 2026 Minnesota Student Survey by emailing Teresa Widen at t.widen@pactcharter.org. Please indicate the level of survey you wish to review:
- 2026 Minnesota Student Survey Level 1 (Grade 5)
- 2026 Minnesota Student Survey Level 2 (Grade 8)
- 2026 Minnesota Student Survey Level 3 (Grades 9 & 11 and ALL ALC Students)
The Minnesota Department of Education will not allow the surveys to be sent electronically. The survey is anonymous and confidential. To prevent individuals or families from being identified, students do not provide their names, student identification numbers, or personal information. The results are reported for our students as a whole.
During the survey administration, students may decline to answer any part of the survey or the whole survey. They will be reminded of this before they begin the survey.
Should a family choose not to have their student take the survey, please complete the bottom of the Passive Consent Notice to Parents (linked below) and return it directly to the student’s school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Teresa Widen, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning / Literacy Lead
Additional information:State, county, and district results for 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 are also available:
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Minnesota Statute 120B.31, Subdivision 4a requires school districts to provide notice to parents or guardians of their option to refuse to have their students take the statewide assessments. The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has developed a form for parents to use to exercise this option.
Refusal for Student Participation in Statewide Testing FormAll opt-out forms should be mailed to the address below or emailed to Jenelle Moehn at j.moehn@pactcharterschool.org
PACT Charter School
Attn: Jenelle Moehn
7250 East Ramsey Parkway NW
Ramsey, MN 55303 -
District approval to conduct research at PACT Charter Schools is managed and granted through the Office of Teaching and Learning.
We support giving reasonable access to individuals, institutions, and organizations to conduct approved research projects in PACT Charter Schools, while protecting and contributing to the district’s primary responsibility of providing a premier education for all. We prioritize the privacy of all student data and the interests of students, staff, and families when evaluating any proposal.
Who may conduct research?
We encourage PACT employees seeking higher degrees to improve their practice to conduct research in the District toward the completion of their theses, dissertations, and capstones. Students, professors, and researchers from institutions of higher education seeking to research the effects of effective pedagogical methods may also apply for research approval. Outside organizations and institutions researching educational methods and policy can also apply. However, it should be noted that PACT Schools does not engage in market research for commercial purposes.
What is the role of the Office of Teaching and Learning in this process?
The Office of Teaching and Learning must approve all research involving PACT students, staff, or schools. We work to ensure that research projects benefit PACT Charter Schools, that the research methods employed are sound and feasible, and that data collected by the researcher or provided by the district are handled appropriately to protect student privacy, in accordance with PACT Charter Schools' policy and government regulations. Approval from relevant school principals and/or district administrators is also required before any research can begin.
How are applications evaluated?
Once we have the documentation for the research request, proposals are presented to the PACT Instructional Cabinet at its monthly meeting. The Instructional Cabinet consults with District content experts and other administrators, as needed, to evaluate all research proposals and verify the viability of participation in the research study.
How do I apply?
Submit the following document to Theresa Widen, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning/Literacy Lead:
- A copy of the Institutional Review Board Paperwork
- Description of how participants (e.g., schools, students, &/or staff) will be selected and what their participation involves
- A copy of the consent form to be used (e.g., staff, student, and/or family)
- Access to supporting documents: Survey Questions, Interview Questions, Observation Protocols, etc
- General timeline for the activities related to the study
- End of project activities (e.g., How will you share your research results with the PACT Charter Schools?)
Contact Teresa Widen, who oversees assessment and evaluation for PACT Charter Schools, through mail, email, phone, or personal appointment.
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State Mandated Assessments
District Assessments
Other Assessments
