Overview of Assessment

Overview of Assessment in Preschool and Early Elementary

Assessment Requirement

Who is assessed?

What does the assessment measure?

Preschool Assessments for Children with Disabilities through Results Matter
(Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)

School Readiness in Kindergarten
§22-7-1004

CO READ Act Universal Literacy Screening Access
1 CCR 301-92

Children ages 3 through 5 years old who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) under IDEA.

Every student in a publicly funded kindergarten.

Every K-3 student in public schools

Progress children make from the time they enter special education until they exit Preschool Special Education.

Students' knowledge, skills, and abilities as they progress toward grade-level expectations.

Screens for students who may be at risk for reading.

Colorado Law Guides Early Childhood Assessment

Assessments in preschool and early elementary provide critical information as a child transitions from preschool through elementary. In Colorado, these assessments are guided by laws that aim to support learning, improve teaching, and measure success.

Preschool Assessment Requirements for Children Served Under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the United States Department of EducationCDE requires the CDE to report the outcomes of preschool children who are served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) annually. CDE uses preschool outcome data from the approved early childhood assessments for Results Matter to report on the effectiveness of the programs serving children who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Learn more about Results Matter in preschool.

School Readiness Requirements in Kindergarten

In 2008, the Colorado General Assembly passed the Preschool through Postsecondary Alignment Act, also known as Colorado’s Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K). This legislation requires every student in publicly funded kindergarten to have an individual school readiness plan to support school readiness and end-of-kindergarten expectations. The law also requires this individual learning plan to be informed by kindergarten school readiness assessment tools approved by the Colorado State Board of Education. Learn more about School Readiness in Kindergarten.

READ ACT Universal Screening

The READ Act requires the use of an interim assessment or universal screener to determine whether a student has a significant reading deficiency in grades Kindergarten through 3rd. READ Act Rule defines interim assessments as universal screening assessments administered to all students to identify those who may experience lower-than-expected reading outcomes and may be at risk for reading challenges (1 CCR 301-92, 2.18). Interim assessments are administered to students three times per year. Learn more about the Colorado READ Act.