Math & reading standards and testing in Montana
Updated June 2026
Montana's Content Standards are based on the Common Core State Standards. Students in grades 3-8 take a state assessment in reading and math; Montana has been transitioning to the MAST through-year model alongside Smarter Balanced.
Does Montana hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
No. Montana has no 3rd-grade retention gate; promotion is local.
Standards
Montana Content Standards
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, so grade-level skills match what most of the country teaches.
The key test
The Montana state test
MAST / Smarter Balanced covers both math and reading in grades 3-8.
Reading the results
Through-year windows across the year (MAST).
Four levels: Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Advanced.
On grade level means Proficient or above on the state ELA assessment.
What's distinctive about Montana
Montana's MAST is a through-year assessment delivered in multiple windows rather than one spring summative.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever Montana calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
Montana teaches the Common Core standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: Montana Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.
Nearby states: Alaska · Arizona · California · Colorado
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