State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Arntzen Announces Wide-Spread Support for Montana’s Field Testing Flexibility Waiver
HELENA – On May 2, 2023, Superintendent Arntzen submitted the Field-Testing Flexibility Waiver for the Montana Assessment System to the US Department of Education (DOE). This waiver request ensures that students, teachers, and district leaders participating in the Montana Alternative Student Testing Pilot Program (MAST) are not overburdened with double testing during the 2023-2024 school year. The MAST Program utilizes a new assessment model that supports Through-Year Assessments. These assessments are smaller tests taken closest to the learning of the skill throughout the school year. These tests will provide immediate feedback to parents, students, and teachers.
To-date, 11 letters of support for the Field Testing Waiver have been sent to the DOE by:
- Governor Gianforte
- Senator Jon Tester
- Senator Steve Daines
- Representative Matt Rosendale
- Representative Ryan Zinke
- Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
- The Education Trust
- All4Ed
- Education Reform Now
- Collaborative for Student Success
- Education First
“All eyes are on Montana as we lead the way in innovating student assessments,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “As a 23-year teacher, I recognize that a one-size-fits-all test doesn’t work. I am thankful for the nation-wide support that Montana has received for linking student success with teaching and learning.”
More than 30 school districts and nearly 5,000 students in grades 5 and 7 in Math and Reading participated in the first year of the MAST Pilot Program. Year II of the MAST Pilot Program will include grades 3-8 in Math and Reading. The Office of Public Instruction has recruited 127 schools in 53 school districts, with over 20,000 students to participate. There will be four testing windows and one performance task window:
- Testing Window #1: October 23 - November 10, 2023
- Testing Window #2: November 27 - December 15, 2023
- Testing Window #3: January 29 - February 16, 2024
- Testing Window #4: March 11 - 29, 2024
- Performance Task Window: April 15 - May 2, 2024