CMAS measures student achievement with respect to the Colorado Academic Standards for English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The Colorado Department of Education uses the results for educational accountability for schools and districts. The tests provide critical information to the state and district on how well your child, as well as their peers, have been learning and connecting with classroom instruction through the academic standards. Districts and educators use the results to improve instruction and make sure that all students can succeed. Tests are administered during a testing window in the month of April.  Each subject area has three different test sessions that are administered to students. Total testing time ranges from 8 to 10 hours, depending on grade level. Testing is completed over the course of several days within a state-designated testing window.

Peyton School District administers the computer based CMAS assessment through PearsonAccess Next to all students who are required to take the state content assessment. Students who have specific accommodations can have a paper-based version of the CMAS test administered to them during the same time that their peers are using the computer based assessment.

Parent and Family CMAS Resources:  

General Assessment Information for Parents | CDE

Parent and Family Resources | CDE

CMAS Student Practice Resources:  CMAS Practice Test

Family and Community Guides to the Colorado Academic Standards | CDE

Pearson Access Next is the assessment management system used to administer how students with significant cognitive disabilities are achieving in respect to the Science Extended Evidence Outcomes.The CoAlt science assessment isn’t timed, on average it is completed in 30-60 minutes. Time is dependent on student need and can be administered in multiple sittings, if needed. CoAlt test dates are aligned with CMAS Science testing dates for grades 5, 8, and 11.

DLM is the assessment management system used to administer English and Math for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This test is administered in grades 3 through 8 as an alternative to CMAS, and in grades 9 through 11 as an alternative to PSAT/SAT.  There is an average of 7 testlets per subject and each testlet is completed within 5 to 15 minutes.  Although time is dependent on each student, students typically complete one to two testlets per testing day. The Colorado Department of Education uses the results from CoAlt testing for educational accountability for schools and districts. The districts use the information to monitor student progress, improve instruction, and to help make sure students can succeed. 

Colorado Alternate Assessment (CoAlt) Parent Brochure

WIDA Access for ELLs or Alternate Access for ELLs is an English Language Proficiency assessment that all Multilingual Learners (NEP and LEP), including students with disabilities, must participate in, in the State of Colorado. ACCESS for ELLs measures students’ academic English language skills. The test is an opportunity for students to demonstrate all the ways that they understand and can communicate in English. Students are tested in reading, listening, writing, and speaking. The Colorado Department of Education uses the results from WIDA testing for educational accountability.The testing results help teachers understand what language skills students need in order to fully participate in classrooms and how to best instruct students that are classified as a Multilingual learner. Each test section takes about 45 minutes to complete.

WIDA Parent Resources English: ACCESS for ELLs

WIDA Parent Resources Spanish: ACCESS for ELLs

English Language Proficiency Assessment | CDE

The College Board SAT Suite of Assessments is aligned to Colorado Academic Standards and focuses on the concepts and skills that matter for career readiness and college. The SAT Suite of Assessments is administered to students once a year beginning in ninth grade at no cost to the student. The test helps identify students who are falling behind, so that teachers can intervene. It also provides indicators for students who are ready for advanced coursework.

The PSAT9

Taken in the spring of ninth grade, the PSAT9 establishes a baseline measurement of college and career readiness as students enter high school. It helps students and educators determine what students need to work on most.

The PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT 

The PSAT 10 and the PSAT/NMSQT are the same test, offered at different times of year. They check student progress and pinpoint areas for development. Taken in the tenth grade, the PSAT10 continues to measure for college and career readiness. It helps students and educators determine what students need to work on most.

The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test students take to enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program and to compete for recognition and college scholarships. To enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, which is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of their high school program (usually the junior year) and meet other published participation requirements.

The SAT

The SAT is an opportunity for students to show colleges they're ready to succeed on campus. Most students take the SAT for the first time during the spring of their junior year

PSAT/SAT parent information is available in English or Spanish through the links below.

A Parent/Guardian's Guide: Getting Your Teen Ready for the SAT

PRÁCTICA OFICIAL DEL SAT Guía Para Padres: Preparar a su adolescente para el SAT

Acadience Reading grades K-6 and MAZE grades 3-6 

Acadience Reading K–6 is a universal screening and progress monitoring assessment that measures the acquisition of early literacy skills from kindergarten through sixth grade. The Acadience reading measures come from Oral Reading Fluency, including Retell, and Maze. These measures serve as indicators for advanced phonics and word attack skills, accurate and fluent reading of text, and reading comprehension.

The Colorado Department of Education uses the results for educational accountability in relation to the Colorado Read Act. The district utilizes the results to monitor student progress and provide support in academic programs. Peyton Elementary administers benchmark assessments to all students grade K-6, three times a year. These assessments equip our educators with research based tools that monitor reading proficiency, which allows them to identify students who are struggling and need extra support. The extra support is progress monitored which allows the district to continue to improve student outcomes. The length of the Oral Reading Fluency and Retell varies from 2 minutes for progress monitoring on a weekly or biweekly basis and 6 minutes for the benchmark assessment three times a year. The Oral Reading Fluency and Retell are administered individually. The length of the Maze measure is 3 minutes for progress monitoring on a weekly or biweekly basis and 3 minutes for the benchmark.  Maze can be given in a group setting or individually.

Acadience Math grades K-6 - In the process of being implemented at Peyton Elementary 

Acadience Math is a universal screening and progress monitoring assessment that measures the acquisition of math skills from kindergarten through sixth grade. More information to come on this assessment.

For More Information:

Reading Assessments, Tools, and Resources | Acadience Learning

Maze

Acadience Math Assessments (For K - 6)

MAP Growth is a computer adaptive test—which means every student gets a unique set of test questions based on their responses to previous questions, regardless of whether they are on, above, or below their grade level. The purpose of MAP Growth is to determine what the student knows and is ready to learn next. The assessments monitor academic progress over time and the district utilizes the results to help monitor student progress, provide teachers with areas of instruction that students may struggle with, and apply support for students if needed. Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores in similar skills and topics and then plan instruction accordingly. The NWEA tests are administered in the fall, winter, and spring and average 45-60 minutes per test. Testing time may be shorter or longer depending on individual students. We are truly excited to be able to utilize the MAPGrowth assessments to focus on your child’s individual growth and achievement. 

The links provided can offer parents more information about the MAP Growth/NWEA assessments.

Family Toolkit - NWEA 

Common Questions Families - NWEA

Parents and MAP Growth – 7 Things to Know - Teach. Learn. Grow.

A family guide to MAP Growth | Nwea

NWEA Student Resources

• MAP Test Warm-up

The CogAT is a multidimensional aptitude assessment. CogAT score reports, which parents will receive once the testing is completed, include a Total Reasoning score that consists of three separate battery subtests; Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. Contrasting the three battery scores will provide teachers with a picture of current student strengths and ideas to adapt instruction to improve areas of weakness. The district utilizes the data to identify students for gifted and talented services, gives insight in differentiating instruction based on student learning strengths, and provides a view of student ability across multiple cognitive domains. The CogAT test is administered on computers once a year, typically in the months of October or November. The test time varies, but on average takes about 2 hours. The test may be administered over a few days in the test window.

CogAT Parent resources:

Riverside Insights Blog | Parent Resources

ACT WorkKeys is an assessment that tests students’ job skills in applied reading, writing, mathematics and Essential Skills. Scores are based on job profiles that help employers select, hire, train, develop and retain a high-performance workforce. Students must score at least a "3" or bronze level in ALL THREE ASSESSMENTS in order to demonstrate career and college readiness. Earning this certificate meets the Graduation Guidelines competencies, not single tests.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a comprehensive test that helps determine students’ eligibility and suitability for careers in the military. Students who score at least 31 on the AFQT are eligible for service (along with other standards that include physical condition and personal conduct). Students who take the ASVAB are not required to enlist in the military. A Reading, Writing, Communicating, and Mathematics score of 31 on the AFQT meets Graduation Guideline competencies.

Graduation Guidelines | CDE

Menu of College and Career-Ready Demonstrations

ALEKS is a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system that has been used by over 25 million students for Math, Chemistry, Statistics and Accounting. After quickly and accurately determining each student's precise knowledge of a subject, ALEKS helps the student work on the topics they are ready to learn.

About ALEKS

More frequent and informal assessments are happening daily in the classroom.  These assessments include: progress monitoring, class assignments, lesson tests, and midterm tests. Teacher made daily assessments can be verbal questioning, checks for understanding, exit tickets, and quizzes.