State Assessments

Michigan's state summative assessments are the M-Step, PSAT, SAT, WIN Work Readiness, and MI-Access. These tests measure student progress toward the state content standards and career or college-readiness goals in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The WIDA Access measures English language proficiency.

Student level reports are available through MiLearn that can be accessed from MISTAR ParentConnection. This a free Michigan Department of Education service that delivers state assessment reports electronically to students, families, and educators: How to view state assessment reports.

State and federal laws require schools to assess student learning every year in specific grade levels and subjects. While we support parents in making choices for their children, there is no "opt-out" of state assessments under state or federal law. Students who are not assessed will count against their school's required 95 percent participation rate, which will create an incomplete picture of their school's performance. Assessment results help target support and resources to students and schools that need them most. The test results also inform future state education policies and programs.

All students in grades 3-11 and multilingual learners in all grades. Students typically will spend no more than three hours on the ELA and mathematics tests. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will spend an additional two and one-half hours on science and social studies testing.

In the spring of each school year, typically April and May. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) determines the testing windows. Specific testing dates are determined by each school. Please look for communication directly from your school regarding which days students will be participating.

After testing, students and families can expect to receive PSAT/SAT student score reports within 2-4 weeks in the College Board portal. All other state assessment scores are released in late summer and shared with families in the fall.

M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress)
M-STEP is a computer-adaptive assessment designed to gauge how well students are mastering state grade-level standards. English language arts and mathematics are assessed in grades 3-7; science and social studies are assessed in grades 5, 8, and 11. For more information about understanding student scores, see: M-STEP: What Do the Scores Mean

PSAT/SAT

PSAT and SAT are computer-adaptive assessments considered part of the SAT suite of assessments from College Board. These assessments are designed to measure student progress toward the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in college and career. English language arts and mathematics are assessed in grades 8 and 9 with the PSAT 8/9, in grade 10 with the PSAT 10, and in grade 11 with the SAT. For more information see the following student guides:
PSAT 8/9 | PSAT 10 | SAT

Note: Students may elect to take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of 11th grade. This is not required and is not part of the spring state assessment system. Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet other program entry requirements can enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Students and families may contact their high school counselor to inquire about the registration process, fees, and fee waivers.

WIN Work Readiness Assessment

WIN is designed to measure the fundamental skills necessary for career and job readiness. This is administered to students in grade 11. There are three Academic Skills Assessments: Work Ready Math, Work Ready Reading, and Work Ready Data. Passing the Academic Skills Assessments results in the National Work Readiness Credential – Academic Skills, a portable, nationally recognized credential endorsed by the National Work Readiness Council. For more information, see: WIN Work Readiness Assessment.

MI-Access
MI-Access is Michigan's alternate assessment system designed for students who have, or function as if they have, cognitive impairments and whose IEP (Individualized Educational Program) Team has determined that general assessments, even with accommodations, are not appropriate. MI-Access is based on Michigan's alternate content expectations for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies and is available for grades 3-8 and 11. The three MI-Access assessments are Functional Independence, Supported Independence, and Participation. For more information, see: MI-Access: Michigan’s Alternate Assessment.

WIDA ACCESS for ELLs
The WIDA ACCESS for ELLs measures English language proficiency and is administered to multilingual learners in grades K-12. Please read the following letter to understand more. Available in multiple languages.

Arabic | Chinese (Simplified) | Dari | English | French | Haitian | Hmong | Korean | Pashto | Portuguese | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Ukrainian | Urdu | Vietnamese