Minnesota: 45 districts to use new assessment to determine school readiness

July 21, 2026, MN Education Department announces 45 school districts statewide will test a new kindergarten assessment this school year | kare11.com

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced that 70 schools in 45 school districts across Minnesota will participate in a pilot program to test out a new kindergarten assessment.

This assessment was approved by the Minnesota state legislature in 2023.

Education officials say the assessment is not a standardized test, but a series of observations from trained professionals, teachers and school staff who will assess student activity in the classroom.

This assessment will go deeper than just making sure students know their numbers and letters.

MDE officials say the purpose of the assessment is to observe students to see how they interact with the lessons, their teacher and the other students in the classroom, and to see if there is anything the teachers can change to make sure every student can adjust to life in school. . . .

At the Tri-City United School District, Acosta says they will test out the assessment on around 160 kindergarten students who are enrolled at three of their schools.

MDE says the assessment will be rolled out to every school district in Minnesota in 2027.