Minnesota schools begin MCA testing

It's testing time in Minnesota as the annual MCA standardized tests get underway Monday at schools across the state.

The state uses the MCA's to measure proficiency under the Bush-era No Child Left Behind education law.

That law is coming up for changes this year, but Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said this month's tests are still important for students to take seriously.

"Because there still will be accountability, there will still be reporting, there will still be information out there, and we will be tracking students to see if they're meeting proficiency levels," Seagren said.

State testing director Dirk Mattson said this year's tests are still important, even though there are discussions in Washington about changing that law. Mattson said the current system of testing will remain until the changes go into effect, and at this point, no legislation is coming up for a vote anytime soon.

"The changes that they're talking about at the federal level will not be here tomorrow - even if everything came true at the federal level that's still four or five years before things are up and running," Mattson said.

The Obama administration has indicated that it plans to continue the part of No Child Left Behind that requires testing. The proposed changes focus more on how you use the results of those tests.