Marshall Public Schools to Change Assessment Suite, Drop NWEA and Adopt mCLASS Tools

Marshall Public School District administrators told the board the district will change its assessment program for 2025'26, dropping the NWEA assessment and adopting mCLASS screening tools and a new math screener for younger grades. Jeremy, the district administrator, said the state requires a particular set of assessment activities and the district is changing its local assessment plan to comply. As part of that change, the district plans to stop administering NWEA and will adopt mCLASS ReadBasics (a literacy screener that includes dyslexia screening elements), mCLASS DIBELS for early grades and mCLASS Math for kindergarten through fourth grade, officials said. Why it matters: administrators said the new tools provide more detailed, actionable student-level data for teachers, and will be used to help set goals and drive instruction. The district also will continue to use statewide Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) data and locally developed assessments for placement and monitoring. The middle school will also renew a focus on standards-based learning and new grading rubrics. Jeremy said staff at the middle school have developed two guiding documents for families and staff to clarify the standards-based approach and that the school will pilot revised rubrics to address concerns such as work completion and consistent grading practices. In addition, the district announced a new middle-school course called FLEX (Focused Learning and Enrichment Experience). The FLEX period, scheduled around lunch and recess, is intended to provide targeted support in math and reading and flexible enrichment options depending on student needs. The district said a recent Taco Bell grant will provide funds for new equipment and supplies for FLEX programming at the middle and high school. Discussion vs. action: the changes were presented by administration (discussion). No board vote on assessments was taken at the meeting. Administrators said they will present a more formal plan and additional information to the board later in the year as implementation and teacher training proceed.