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
| 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 |
|
|
| 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 |
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. |