EdAllies

10/01/2026

EdAllies turns 10 years old today and we're throwing it back to one of the first Facebook posts we ever made. Thanks to all of those who worked so hard over the last decade to ensure that every young Minnesotan has access to a rigorous and engaging education.

Join us as we celebrate our last ten years and look forward to the next decade on November 5 at The Neu Neu! https://event.gives/10year

The Ed Allies founding staff at

09/30/2026

Every year, Minnesota tests students in reading, math, and science through the MCA: the state's only standardized measure that lets us compare outcomes across all 500-plus school districts and charter schools with the same yardstick.

That consistency is what makes the MCA so valuable for education equity. When we break the data down by race, income, disability status, and English Learner status, we can see exactly where opportunity gaps exist and track whether they're closing over time.

The numbers are clear: Minnesota has some of the largest education disparities in the nation and knowing it is the first step to fixing it.

Check out our new MCA guide at https://edalliesmn.org/blog/understanding-minnesotas-mca-scores-a-guide-for-families-educators-and-communities/

09/29/2026

Minnesota's MCA scores drop this week and this year comes with some big changes families and educators need to know about before opening that report.

New test. New proficiency labels. And scores that can't be compared to last year's. We put together a full guide to help make sense of it all.

Read our guide here: https://edalliesmn.org/blog/understanding-minnesotas-mca-scores-a-guide-for-families-educators-and-communities/

09/28/2026

MCA scores drop this week and for a lot of families, understanding the scores and what that means for your child can feel intimidating. The new changes to proficiency labels can add to the confusion.

Our Executive Director Josh Crosson talked with KSTP this week about what the changes to this year's scores mean for Minnesota families.

His message to parents: don't hesitate to ask questions. Your child's teacher and principal are there to help you make sense of the data.

Read Josh's interview with KSTP at https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minnesota-reading-scores-get-a-reset-what-parents-need-to-know/

09/25/2026

Minnesota students who meet the proficiency benchmark on their 10th-grade reading or 11th-grade math MCA cannot be required to take a remedial college course in that subject. The MCA isn't just about accountability: it can save students time and money on the path to a degree.

Check out the statute here: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/136F.302/pdf

09/24/2026

The READ Act, Minnesota's landmark 2023 literacy law, changed how teachers are trained and how reading is taught in K-3.

Since the law has now been in effect for three school years, it’s be tempting to use this year’s MCA scores as a gauge for whether the READ Act is working.

While some early-adopter schools may be seeing movement on MCA scores, other schools are just beginning to move from professional development to implementation. Many students who took the MCA in 3rd grade in 2026 have only received evidence-based reading instruction for a few years—not their whole K-3 experience. The first cohort of students to receive the fully implemented READ Act support starting in kindergarten won’t take the MCA until 2030.

Check out more details on the MCAs in our new blog: https://edalliesmn.org/blog/understanding-minnesotas-mca-scores-a-guide-for-families-educators-and-communities/

09/23/2026

This year, the test will use new cut scores and proficiency labels, replacing the familiar “Does Not Meet/Partially Meets/Meets/Exceeds” framework. Moving forward, that language will be “Beginner/Intermediate/Meets/Exceeds.”

The purpose of these Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) is to promote equity for all students across the state by clarifying expected learning outcomes for instruction and local assessment of Minnesota Academic Standards and support teachers’ analysis of the depth of their curriculum, instruction, and classroom assessments.

It’s important for caregivers and community members to understand what those labels mean.

Learn more about the MCAs and what we're looking for in this year's scores on our new blog: https://edalliesmn.org/blog/understanding-minnesotas-mca-scores-a-guide-for-families-educators-and-communities/

Visit https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/test/pld/ for more information from MDE on the scores.

09/22/2026

The MCAs measure whether students are meeting grade-level standards in core subject areas. State standards are revised every 10 years, and once standards change, it’s no longer accurate to compare subsequent MCA results to previous years.

Spring 2026 was the first administration of a new Reading MCA built on updated ELA standards. That means the 2026 test measures slightly different goals than the 2025 test, and we can’t make a true apples-to-apples comparison; they are two different tests measuring different sets of skills. The 2026 MCA reading results will represent a new benchmark for the next decade.

Learn more about the new reading standards at https://education.mn.gov/mde/dse/stds/ela/

09/22/2026

Two days after Election Day, the results will be in and the question on every education advocate's mind will be the same: what does this mean for Minnesota's students?

Join EdAllies on November 5th as we mark 10 years of advocacy and gather as a community to look honestly at what the election means for schools, students, and the policy fights ahead.

Thursday, Nov. 5 | 6-9 p.m. | The Neu Neu, Minneapolis
Register: event.gives/10year

09/14/2026

We're pleased to share that our executive director, Josh Crosson, will be the keynote speaker for Way to Grow's Shine Celebration in October! To learn more about their upcoming celebration and to get tickets, visit https://waytogrow.org/shine/