The need to assess students' educational needs and progress is explored, and minimum standards that local school districts must meet to be in compliance with classification and accreditation standards of the State Board of Education are specified. There are three major uses of assessment results: instructional, guidance and counseling, and administrative. The Missouri Excellence in Education Act of 1985 contains provisions for required student testing that requires the identification of key skills or learner outcomes. "Core Competencies and Key Skills for Missouri Schools," published in 1986, defines the framework about which a district's curriculum can be built, and thus is the basis for the district's assessment program. State regulations define areas that district assessment must cover. Districts must use criterion-referenced tests to measure performance on the key skills, and the Missouri Mastery and Achievement Tests were developed for this purpose. The minimum assessment requirements, grade level testing requirements, and special needs assessment (including vocational education and Chapter 1 assessment) required by state law are described. Thirteen appendixes contain the statutory requirements, test descriptions, sample forms and assessment plans, and other information pertaining to assessment in Missouri. (SLD)