District News

 

Dear Parent/Guardian:

During the 2024–25 school year, Montana students in grades 3–8 participated in the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) assessment in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This statewide assessment is Montana’s measure of student progress toward our state content standards. These standards set clear expectations for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

Unlike a single end-of-year test, MAST is taken throughout the school year in smaller sections, called testlets. These testlets are embedded in instruction and designed to measure important skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and math aligned to grade level state content standards. The results from all testlets are combined to create a summative scale score and achievement level, reported in the enclosed Through-Year Student Score Report. This report provides:

• An overall scale score (ranging from 250–400) that summarizes your child’s performance for the year.
• An achievement level that describes how your child performed relative to grade-level expectations.
• Details for each testlet completed during the year, showing strengths and areas where additional support may be helpful.
• In ELA, additional results for reading comprehension (literary and informational texts) and the performance task in writing.

Achievement Levels
Your child’s overall performance is reported in one of four achievement levels:

• Advanced – The student exceeded grade-level expectations and has demonstrated mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary for success in future coursework.
• Proficient – The student met grade-level expectations and has demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary for success in future coursework.
• Partially Proficient – The student partially met grade-level expectations and needs additional support to develop the knowledge and skills required for success in future coursework.
• Novice – The student did not meet grade-level expectations and needs considerable support to develop the knowledge and skills required for success in future coursework.

It is important to remember that no single test can capture all that your child knows and is able to do. Assessment results should always be considered alongside classroom performance, grades, and other local measures. Together, these provide the most complete picture of your child’s learning and progress.

For more information on understanding your child’s results, you can view the Interpretive Guide for MAST Through-Year Reports available at your child’s school during Parent/Teacher Conferences this fall, or on the MAST Portal.  To sign up for the parent portal please reach out to your child’s teacher or school.  Once you have verified the correct email to link to the student in the MAST Portal, your child’s teacher will share out the steps for logging in.

 Sincerely,

Laurel Public Schools