Report: Soaring MCA opt-outs skew Minnesota test data
A new analysis says student opt-outs from Minnesota's statewide Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments have nearly tripled since 2019, undermining confidence in the test data.[1]
The analysis found that by 2025 about 40% of 10th-grade reading tests statewide and 11.5% of all grade-and-school combinations failed to meet the federal 95% participation requirement.[1]
Some schools reported extreme non-participation: Farmington High School and Menahga High School had rates near 60% for certain grades, and special-education campuses saw nearly half of grade-level reading tests fall below the federal standard.[1]
North Star Policy Action reached those conclusions after analyzing Minnesota Department of Education participation records, and the report documents a steady climb in non-participation since 2019 without naming a single causal factor.[1]
Report authors say the participation shortfall makes statewide scores less reliable for comparing schools or measuring student progress, leaving policymakers and districts with a growing measurement problem to address.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Non‑participation in Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments has nearly tripled since 2019, according to North Star Policy Action’s analysis of MDE data.
- By 2025, about 40% of 10th‑grade reading tests statewide and 11.5% of all grade/school combinations failed to meet the federal 95% participation requirement.
- Some schools, including Farmington High School and Menahga High School, reported non‑participation near 60% for certain grades, and special‑education schools saw nearly half of grade‑level reading tests fall below federal standards.
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