District and State Assessments

A Meaningful Part of Student Learning and Instructional Planning

Assessments allow educators to monitor student progress and the effectiveness of instructional strategies. At certain times throughout the year, students are given required assessments that fulfill legislative requirements or district guidelines.

Each required assessment has an assessment window, a time-frame during which the assessment is to be administered. Within the window, the actual assessments vary in how much time students spend testing. 

Information below outlines required assessments, the assessment windows, the time students spend testing, and how the results of the assessments are used. Also indicated are whether an assessment meets a district, state, or federal requirement.

Dates for specific assessments are also listed in the 2022-23 PSD Assessment Calendar.

More information on assessment can be found on the Colorado Department of Education website.

 


School Readiness and Early Gifted and Talented Screening

GOLD - Pre-K, Kindergarten

Dates: (Pre-K) Aug. 16-Oct. 24, Oct. 25-Jan. 30, Jan. 31-May 1

(K) Aug. 16-Oct. 28, Jan. 5-Feb. 3, Apr. 25-May 19

Days Testing: 27 day window
Time for Administration: Observational throughout the window. Required by: State
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids Use of Results: Determine kindergarten readiness.

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) - Grade 2, Grades 3-12

Dates: Grades: 3-2, Oct. 10-Nov. 24

Grade 2, Grades 3-12,  Feb. 6-March 3

Days Testing: 15 day window
Time for Administration: 3 hours Required by: District
Purpose: Gifted and Talented Identification Use of Results: As part of a body of evidence to determine if students qualify for Gifted and Talented services.


Basic Literacy

READ Act Benchmark

Time for Administration: Less than 10 minutes Required by: State
Purpose: Colorado READ Act Use of Results: Determine student acquisition of basic reading skills. Determine students with significant reading deficiency.



Acadience - Grades K-3, (4-5 for students on READ Plans)

Dates: Aug. 22-Sept. 2, Dec. 5-Dec. 16, Apr. 24-May 5
Days Testing: 10 day window.
Dates for Fall window (Kindergarten only): Aug. 16-Oct. 14  Days Testing: 43 day window.


Secondary Literacy Intervention - Grades 6-11 for students on READ Plans 
iLit or Read180 or Achieve3000

Dates: 8/15-9/15, 12/5-1/20, 4/24-5/12

 


Academic Progress

NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Reading and Math - Grades 2-10

Dates: Aug. 15-Sept. 23, Dec. 5-Jan. 27, Apr. 17-May 25 Days Testing: 28 day window
Time for Administration: 1 hour per subject Required by: District
Purpose: Determine academic level and growth Use of Results: Class placement, instructional grouping, MTSS, Educator Effectiveness.

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)

Dates: ELA/Math (Grd 3-8): Mar. 27-Apr. 28, CoAlt: Science (Grd 5, 8, 11): Apr. 10-Apr. 28
*CMAS Social Studies will not be offered for the 2021-22 school year.
Days Testing: Varies
Time for Administration: Approximately 2.5 - 5.5 hours, depending on subject and grade level. Required by: State and Federal
Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability

 
Use of Results: Measure student performance and growth in the Colorado Academic Standards. Screen for academic programs and placement, Educator Effectiveness.

Preparatory Exam PSAT- Grade 9 - 10

Date: April 12, 13 or 14 Days Testing: 1 day window
Time for Administration: 3.5 hours Required by: State
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids Use of Results: Determine postsecondary readiness.

College Entrance Exam SAT - Grade 11

Date: April 12 Days Testing: 1 day window
Time for Administration: 4 hours Required by: State
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids Use of Results: Determine postsecondary readiness.

Assessments for Unique Populations

ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELL) - Grades K-12 English Language Learners

Dates: Jan. 9-Feb. 10 Days Testing: 43 day window
Time for Administration: 4 sections averaging from 35-60 minutes each Required by: Federal
Purpose: English Language Acquisition Proficiency and Growth Use of Results: Measures ELL students' progress in acquiring academic English in the areas of: social and instructional language, language of science, language of social studies, language of language arts and the language of math.

Dynamic Learning Maps (English Language Arts and Math) and CoAlt (Science and Social Studies) - Grades 3-11 Students with a Disability Qualifying for Alternate Assessments

Dates for grades 3-8: Mar. 27-Apr. 28
Dates for grades 9-11: Apr. 10-Apr. 28
CoAlt dates for grades 5, 8, 11: Apr. 10- Apr. 28

Days Testing: Varies
Time for Administration: Varies based on student need Required by: Federal
Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability Use of Results: Measure student progress toward meeting Extended Evidence Outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards.

PROGRESS Alternate Assessment (Alternate to MAP Assessment) - Grades 2-10 Students with a Disability Qualifying for Alternate Assessments

Dates: 1st Quarter and 4th Quarter Days Testing: Varies
Time for Administration: Completed during window Required by: District
Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability Use of Results: Measure student progress toward meeting Extended Evidence Outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards.