STATE MANDATED TESTING

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) is the main test used to assess the progress of our students and our school. Our faculty analyzes the results of these assessments to improve the effectiveness of our curriculum and instructional practices.

Questions? please contact our CMAS coordinator, Deborah Ormsby.

State Assessments, Why?

As part of a balanced assessment system, state assessments provide valuable information to students, families, schools, districts, the state and taxpayers. A balanced assessment system is one that contains formative assessments (quick checks for learning conducted by teachers throughout their class), interim assessments (more formal progress monitoring often conducted several times throughout the year to see how students are progressing), and summative assessments (end of course/unit, end of year assessments to find out what students know and can do). 

The state assessments are summative assessments. While formative, interim, and classroom-based summative assessments inform classroom instruction on a regular basis, state summative assessments are designed to be point-in-time snapshots of what students know and can do in core content areas. The assessment results are used by: parents/families to gauge student progress over time; teachers to inform and improve classroom practice and student placement; and by schools/districts to inform program, school, and district improvement. The results are also the backbone of the state’s accountability system. They are used to populate the annual school and district performance frameworks which result in accreditation ratings for each school and district. The results can also used for teacher evaluation purposes as one of the multiple measures required under S.B. 10-191.

Paper & Pencil Testing

There will be no more paper-pencil testing (except for accommodations) and eliminates optional SAT writing section — starts spring 2026. Accommodations could be:

• Have a neurological disorder (such as recent concussion),  a condition that causes seizures, or another health condition that prevents the student from accessing the computer
• Braille/Large Print
• Adaptive equipment is not compatible
• Students with disabilities that prevent them from utilizing devices safely may meet this criterion