Transition Updates

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May 13, 2026│Assessment Update 2026-27 Transition from PearsonAccess Next to New Platforms: As part of Pearson's continued efforts to enhance assessment delivery and reporting, Pearson is transitioning from PearsonAccess Next to the LaunchPad and ADAM platforms for the spring 2027 test administrations. LaunchPad provides a single login experience, giving users centralized access to the Learning Management System (LMS) and ADAM. ADAM will serve as the primary platform for test administration and reporting. Note: TestNav will continue to be used for online testing. More communication about this transition, including timelines and training opportunities, will be communicated in future Assessment Updates.
June 24, 2026│Assessment Update Preparing for Spring 2027: Pearson's Comprehensive Training Plan for LaunchPad and ADAM In preparation for the 2026-27 test administration, Pearson will provide comprehensive training on its new testing platforms, LaunchPad and ADAM, for District Assessment Coordinators (DACs). Beginning in early October and continuing through test administration, trainings will be delivered through a combination of live sessions, pre-recorded trainings, and recurring office hours, allowing DACs to build knowledge over time and revisit content as needed. This phased approach ensures that participants receive information at the point it is needed, aligning learning with key testing milestones. The training plan will begin with an introduction to the LaunchPad and ADAM platforms. Following the introduction, the training focus will shift to learning how to use the new platforms through biweekly office hours. The office hours will provide instruction on individual topics for each platform and time for questions. In addition, short, targeted pre-recorded trainings will be posted in the LMS. As districts approach test administration, the Pearson DAC Test Administration Training will bring together all major components of the platforms in an end-to-end walkthrough. To support districts during the testing windows, DACs will have access to biweekly live support meetings to address real-time questions and concerns, provide updates and clarifications, and reinforce best practices.
July 15, 2026│Assessment Update Preparing for Spring 2027: Introduction to LaunchPad LaunchPad is the new Pearson platform that will be available in fall 2026 for creating and managing non-student users (district and school staff) and verifying student enrollment and demographic data for testing. LaunchPad provides non-student users (for example, DACs, Assessment Administrators (AAs), Test Administrators, Learning Management System (LMS) Learners) with centralized access and authentication into Pearson’s systems, including: New for 2026-27: ADAM (Assessment Delivery and Management): The new MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA online test management and reporting platform. ADAM replaces PearsonAccess Next starting with spring 2027 testing. Learning Management System (LMS): The training platform with required and optional test administration trainings. New for 2026-27: All Learners will need a LaunchPad user account to access the LMS. Within LaunchPad, DAC and AA users can: Verify student information: All student demographic and enrollment information is sent from Test WES and uploaded into LaunchPad. Prior to testing, it is important for DAC users to verify student information is correct in LaunchPad. Manage user accounts: DAC users manage all other LaunchPad user accounts for their district, including creating, updating, or deleting user accounts. DAC accounts will be automatically created in LaunchPad based on data from MDE-ORG once the platform goes live in fall 2026. Once users are created in LaunchPad, they will have access to ADAM and the LMS, depending on user role permission. Pearson will present DACs with both live and recorded trainings this fall, introducing LaunchPad and providing detailed information on viewing student information, user management, and accessing other Pearson systems.
July 29, 2026│Assessment Update System Transition Update: User Account Management in LaunchPad Pearson is transitioning from PearsonAccess Next to new platforms: LaunchPad and ADAM (Assessment Delivery and Management). LaunchPad will be available in fall 2026 and will include two types of users: Student users: Student enrollment data sent to Pearson in precode files from Test WES (data will be view only) Non-student users: Staff login accounts used to access the Learning Management System (LMS) and ADAM based on their user role Access to PearsonAccess Next in Fall 2026 District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) and Assessment Administrators (AAs) will continue to have access to PearsonAccess Next until the platform is decommissioned in the fall. During this time, DACs and AAs should not create or edit other user accounts (for example, Test Monitor/Data Entry, MTAS/Alt MCA Test Administrator, Technology, etc.) in PearsonAccess Next because users will need to be re-created in LaunchPad. However, they should delete accounts for staff who are no longer in the district or who no longer need access to PearsonAccess Next. Refer to the PearsonAccess Next User Accounts Guide (2025-26) on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub for additional information on user management tasks in PearsonAccess Next. Creating Non-Student Users in LaunchPad When LaunchPad opens, DAC accounts will be automatically created based on contact information provided in MDE-ORG. DACs will be responsible for creating new non-student user accounts in LaunchPad for all staff who need access to ADAM and/or the LMS. Non-student users can be created manually or through a file upload. Pearson will provide both live and recorded trainings outlining non-student user management in LaunchPad. A user guide will also be available later this fall to provide instructions on creating, editing, and deactivating non-student user accounts in LaunchPad. Refer to the Transition Updates page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub for all recent Assessment Update articles about Pearson’s transition to LaunchPad and ADAM.