Parent and Family Resources

2019 State Tests

This year's CMAS tests will be administered between April 8 and 26. Students in the third through eighth grade will take CMAS tests in English language arts and math. Students in the fifth, eighth and 11th grades will take the CMAS science tests. A sampling of students in the fourth and seventh grade will take the CMAS social studies tests. And students in the ninth and 10th grade will take the PSAT between April 9 and 11, and students in the 11th grade will take the SAT on April 9. Results are expected to be delivered to districts in July. The results are expected to be released publicly in mid-August.

2018 CMAS Score Reports

Last spring, third- through eighth-graders in Colorado took the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests that are aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards. Colorado's ninth- and 10th-graders took the PSAT and 11th-graders took the SAT. The state-level results for these tests were released in August 2018. These materials can help parents better understand what the test results mean and how they can be used to support their student's academic success. 

2019 State Tests

• CMAS - What to expect for the 2018-19 school year
  English (PDF)
• CMAS, PSAT and SAT - Length of tests and dates for the 2018-19 school year (PDF)
• Frequently asked questions about CMAS
• Purpose and Value of State Assessments (PDF)

PSAT & SAT in Colorado

• PSAT & SAT Overview and Testing Dates
• PSAT and SAT in Colorado: Delivering more opportunities for ALL students (PDF)
• Before taking the test
  • What you need to know on test day
    • PSAT (PDF) | SAT (PDF)

2018 CMAS Score Reports

• Find assessment results for your child's school or district
  • Results for all 178 school districts and approximately 1,800 schools can be found on CDE's Colorado Measures of Academic Success webpage.

• Parent's Guide to Understanding the English Language Arts and Math Score Reports
  • Parent's Guide - English (PDF)
  • Parent's Guide - Spanish (PDF)
• How to use the test results to support your student
  • English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
• 2017-18 Sample Score Report
  • English Language Arts Sample Score Report Grade 3
    English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
  • Math Sample Score Report Grade 6
    English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
  • Science Sample Score Report Grade 5
    English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
  • Sample Score Report Social Studies Grade 4
    CoAlt English (PDF) | Spanish PDF)
  • Spanish Performance Level Descriptors - CMAS English language arts and Math
• How Colorado's academic growth system works (PDF)

READ Act Video - English:

READ Act Video - Español:

• Graduation, college and career preparedness are more likely possibilities for students who master reading skills by fourth grade.
• Reading to learn enables a student to comprehend facts in social studies and science, understand word problems in math and interpret increasingly complex concepts in language arts.

• A student who misses the opportunity to learn to read proficiently before fourth grade almost never catches up.
• According to the Annie. E. Casey Foundation, students who cannot read by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, and high school drop outs make up 75 percent of citizens receiving food stamps and 90 percent of the Americans on welfare.

• Be an Advocate: Keep informed about your child's progress in reading. Ask the teacher about ways to help.

• Talk Often: The more words children hear, the better they will be at reading. Narrate your day. Talk about everything you and your child do throughout the day. Converse with your child over meal times and other times you are together. Introduce new and interesting words.
• Read Together: Read books together, spend time talking about the stories, pictures and words. Listen to audiobooks. Ask your child questions about the content. What was the subject, what did they like or not like about the book?
• Be an Example: Children learn from the habits of those around them. Read, write, listen to audiobooks and show your child the benefits of both.
• Visit the Library: Story times, special events, books, magazines, computer access, homework help and other exciting opportunities and activities await the entire family at your local library.

• If your child is At Level/On Target: If your child gets this designation from their school, it means your child is on track for meeting reading targets. You will want to ask your child's teacher about daily reading instruction. What does classroom instruction look like? What skills are they working on? What home activities can support instruction?
• If your child is At Some Risk: If your child gets this designation from their school, it means he or she has some reading skills but not all of them. Supplemental supports are needed in addition to grade-level instruction to help get your child on track. You will want to ask your child's teacher about supplemental supports. What does classroom instruction look like? What skills are they working on? What skills should my child need to have supported? What types of home activities can support instruction?

• If your child is At High Risk: If your child gets this designation from their school, it means he or she has limited or no reading skills. Intensive intervention is needed in addition to grade-level instruction to support your child to get on track. You will want to ask your child's teacher about the READ Act plan for your child and intervention services being provided. What does classroom instruction look like? What skills need to be supported for my child to be on track? What type of intervention services is being provided and how frequently? What types of home activities can support instruction?

For more information, see this Fact Sheet about the importance of early literacy and how to talk to your child's teachers about reading. 

• READ NOW Colorado
  This parent-friendly website support families to better understand what the Colorado READ Act is and tips for supporting your child's literacy journey.
• Tips for Cultivating Readers at Home
  Just like adults, children learn best when they are involved and having fun! Check out ideas from the National Center for Families Learning. These guides share great ways cultivate your child's reading in a playful way from ages birth to 8. These tips can become part of your everyday routine and your child will learn without even realizing it!
  • Tips for Cultivating Readers at Home - English (PDF)
  • Tips for Cultivating Readers at Home - Spanish (PDF)

• Checklists for Literacy Ideas at Home P-3 Grade (PDF)
  The National Institute for Literacy has developed age focused literacy ideas for home for parents of children in preschool through grade three who are getting ready or learning to read.
• Partnering with Your Child's School
  Literacy is the ability to read and write well. You and the school share responsibility for your child's language and literacy learning. Collaborate with your school to make decisions about your child's literacy education right from the start.