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.
More information:
- 2023-24 PSD Assessment Calendar
- Colorado Department of Education website
- PSD Research and Evaluation web page
School Readiness and Early Gifted and Talented Screening
GOLD - Pre-K, Kindergarten
Dates: (Pre-K) Aug. 15-Oct. 16, Oct. 21-Jan. 29, Feb. 3-Apr. 29
(K) Aug. 17-Oct. 27, Jan. 9-Feb. 2, Apr. 22-May 17
Administration Time: Observational throughout the window.
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids
Days Testing: 27-day window
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine kindergarten readiness.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) - Grade 2, Grades 3-12
Dates: Grades: 3-12, Oct. 9-Nov. 03
Grade 2, Grades 3-12, Feb. 5-March 5
Administration Time: 3 hours
Purpose: Gifted and Talented Identification
Days Testing: 15 day window
Required by: District
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
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine student acquisition of basic reading skills. Determine students with significant reading deficiency.
DIBELS8: Grades K-3, (4-5 for students on READ Plans)
Dates: Aug. 21-Sept. 1, Dec. 4-Dec. 15, Apr. 29-May 10
Dates for fall window (kindergarten only): Aug. 17-Oct. 15
Days Testing: 10 day window.
Days Testing: 43 day window.
Secondary Literacy Intervention - Grades 6-11 for students on READ Plans iLit or Read180 or Achieve3000
Grades 6-12 for students on READ Plans iLit or Read180 or Achieve3000
Dates: 8/17-9/15, 12/4-1/26, 4/29-5/17
Academic Progress
NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Reading and Math - Grades 2-10
Dates: Aug. 16-Sept. 15, Dec. 4-Jan. 26, Apr. 22-May 23
Time for Administration: 1 hour per subject
Purpose: Determine academic level and growth
Days Testing: 28 day window
Required by: District
Use of Results: Class placement, instructional grouping, MTSS, Educator Effectiveness.
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)
Dates: ELA/Math (Grd 3-8): Mar. 25-Apr. 26, CoAlt: Science (Grd 5, 8, 11): Apr. 8-Apr. 26
*CMAS Social Studies will not be offered for the 2021-22 school year.
Administration Time: Approximately 2.5 - 5.5 hours, depending on subject and grade level.
Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability
Days Testing: Varies
Required by: State and Federal
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 15-26
Administration Time: 2.25 hours
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids
Days Testing: additional information about testing date requirements will be provided by CDE at a later time
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine postsecondary readiness.
College Entrance Exam SAT - Grade 11
Date: April 15-26
Administration Time: 2.25 hours
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids
Days Testing: additional information about testing date requirements will be provided by CDE at a later time
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine postsecondary readiness.
Assessments for Unique Populations
ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELL) - Grades K-12 English Language Learners
ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELL)
Dates: Jan. 8-Feb. 9
Time for Administration: 4 sections averaging from 35-60 minutes each
Purpose: English Language Acquisition Proficiency and Growth
Days Testing: 43 day window
Required by: Federal
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
Dynamic Learning Maps (English Language Arts and Math) and CoAlt (Science and Social Studies)
Dates for grades 3-8 DLM: Mar. 25-Apr. 26 | 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
Time for Administration: Completed during window
Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability
Days Testing: Varies
Required by: District
Use of Results: Measure student progress toward meeting Extended Evidence Outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards.