Superintendent Arntzen Releases First Operational Score Reports for MAST Assessment to Schools and Parents

• Brian O'Leary
• October 30 2024

HELENA - This week, Superintendent Arntzen released the first operational score reports for the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) assessment to educators and parents. The first MAST Testing Window opened on October 14 and will close on November 22, 2024. In the first week of testing, nearly 10,000 math testlets and 17,500 ELA testlets were completed by students in grades 3-8 across Montana. The score reports allow educators and parents to access student performance data, providing insights into recently taught content and help guide instructional adjustments.

“Offering timely feedback on student testing provides a foundation for academic growth,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The old model of testing only offered one summative score after students had already moved on to the next grade level. The innovative MAST program will help build teaching and learning success throughout the school year.”

The MAST testlet score reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of student performance, including:

• overall results
• identification of math misconceptions
• performance on specific Montana content standards
• detailed item-level feedback

Every student receives an individual score report for each completed testlet, while teachers are provided with classroom-level reports that offer a quick snapshot of classroom performance and aid in instructional planning. For an overview of the score reports and additional resources, visit the MAST Portal.

There are four testing windows throughout the school year:

• Window 2: January 13 – February 21, 2025
• Window 3: March 24 – May 2, 2025
• Window 4: May 5 – May 23, 2025

Throughout each window, testlet score reporting will continue to be available. Summative score reports will be released after proficiency levels are set through a standard-setting process in the summer of 2025. Educators will play a key role in this standard-setting process. Those interested in participating in this process can apply here.