Assessment

About

These tools are meant to be used by district leadership and principals when communicating with their staff or community about Colorado’s assessments. All resources can be modified and personalized to meet individual needs. Resources will be continually added to this page so make sure to check back often.

Assessment Toolkit

The following items are designed to help districts and schools communicate with parents about the upcoming Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessments. These materials can be shared in newsletters or during parent information events or parent-teacher conferences. All materials may be tailored to meet your local needs.

• Fact sheet that explains the 2017 CMAS tests
  English | Español (PDF)
  Use this as a handout at parent meetings or include a link to it in your school newsletter. 

• Three things to know about Colorado's 2017 assessments (PDF)
  Use this to communicate three essential thoughts on the upcoming assessments.

• Assessments at-a-glance (PDF)
  Use this for a quick at-a-glance reminder of what tests students will take and when the tests will be given for the 2016-17 school year.

• PSAT & SAT in Colorado
  • Introducing the PSAT and SAT in Colorado (PDF)
  • Taking the PSAT 10 (PDF)
  • Official SAT Practice (PDF)
  • Taking the SAT (PDF)

• Frequently Asked Questions
  Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)
  English | Español (PDF)
  Refer to this to help answer questions from both teachers and parents about state tests this year.

• Purpose and Value of State Assessments (PDF)
  This fact sheet will help parents and educator understand the role that state assessments have in increasing the academic achievement of students in Colorado. 

• Drop-in articles
  Use these entire articles or just portions of them to communicate with educators and parents about the upcoming 2017 CMAS tests.
  • From superintendents or principals to parents/school community about CMAS tests. (DOC)
  • From superintendents or principals to parents/school community about participation on CMAS tests. (DOC)
  • From superintendents or principals to parents/school community about PSAT 10/SAT tests. (DOC)

• ​Sample score reports - Provide these sample score reports to parents before they receive their own students' reports to help them know what to expect and how to understand the new reports.
  • English Language Arts
    English | Spanish | 9 other languages (PDF)
  • ​Math
    English | Español | 9 other languages (PDF)

• CMAS results & school/district accountability

• CMAS results & teacher evaluations
  • Educator Effectiveness
    Frequently Asked Questions​

 

Fact Sheets

• Transitioning to 21st century standards and assessments (PDF)
  Meaningful and relevant assessments work hand in hand with rigorous academic standards. Assessments provide ongoing measures of student learning at each grade level. The data from assessments is critical in determining if educational goals are being met and if students are on track to graduate prepared for college and career. The Colorado Academic Standards are the foundation for the state assessments in science, social studies, English language arts and mathematics.
• Accountability guidance (HB 15-1323) (PDF)
  HB15-1323 affects several different education issues, including state assessments, educator effectiveness and assessment pilots. This summary provides details on the changes to school and district accountability.
• State and federal assessment requirements (PDF)
  Access this quick reference on the federal and state required assessments.
• Introduction to the Colorado Academic Standards (PDF)
  The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) are the expectations of what students need to know and be able to do at the end of each grade. They also stand as the values and content organizers of what Colorado sees as the future skills and essential knowledge for our next generation to be more successful. Read this fact sheet for an introduction to the CAS.
• Common Core English language arts standards (PDF)
  Colorado has updated academic standards in 10 content areas for preschool through 12th grade. The Colorado Academic Standards for reading, writing and communicating (English language arts) and for mathematics incorporate the Common Core State Standards. This fact sheet provides an overview of the Common Core English language arts standards.
• Common Core mathematics standards (PDF)
  Colorado has updated academic standards in 10 content areas for preschool through 12th grade. The Colorado Academic Standards for reading, writing and communicating (English language arts) and for mathematics incorporate the Common Core State Standards. This fact sheet provides an overview of the Common Core mathematics standards.

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