Which Assessments Students Take

The purpose of ACCESS for ELLs is to monitor student progress in English language proficiency on an annual basis and to serve as a criterion to aid in determining when emerging bilingual students have attained language proficiency comparable to that of their English-proficient peers.

This test is given to all emerging bilingual students in grades K-12 who are identified as non-English proficient (NEP) and limited English proficient.

For ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports click here  

For Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports click here

Please contact your school for specific testing dates

The Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS): Colorado's standards-based state summative assessment system is designed to provide a picture of student performance to schools, districts, educators, parents and the community. The purpose of the assessments is to indicate the degree to which students have mastered the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) in Mathematics, English Language Arts/Literacy, Science and Social Studies at the end of the tested grade level or content area. 

Looking for more information?

• BVSD State Assessment FAQ
• Online practice resources for students: ePATs - Practice Assessment Tools 

Please contact your school for specific testing dates.

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) require that students with disabilities must be included in general state and district-wide assessment programs. The Colorado Alternate Assessment (CoAlt) was created, in accordance with federal guidelines and is a standards based assessment designed specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities and is meant to provide a picture of student performance relative to the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEOs) of the Colorado Academic Standards. 

Alternate Assessment Participation Guidelines Worksheet 
The IEP team must use this worksheet when looking at a student's eligibility for an alternate assessment.  It is a tool to guide the IEP process through alternate assessment determination.  For additional information, please refer to the Participation Guidelines - Companion Document and the Participation Guidelines Booklet.

Students in grades 3-11 that meet the alternate participation guidelines take the CoAlt (or DLM) instead of the CMAS Math & English Language Arts (grades 3-8), PSAT (grades 9-10) or SAT (grade 11). 

Additionally, students in grades 5, 8 and 11 that meet the alternate participation guidelines will take the CoAlt Science instead of the CMAS science assessment. The CoAlt Social Studies / CMAS Science is administered in grades 4 and 7 on a sampling basis to one-third of the elementary and middle school students. 

Please contact your school for specific testing dates.

For more information, visit CDE.

Colorado ninth-graders take the PSAT 8/9 as the statewide assessment in English language arts and math beginning in the spring of 2018, replacing the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests in those subjects for the ninth grade.

In 2017, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 17-1181, which amended the high-school testing requirements and replaced the assessments with one that is aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards as well as to the 10th-grade assessment. The PSAT 10 that high school sophomores take is required to be aligned with the state’s college entrance exam that 11th graders take – the SAT.

The PSAT 10 tests the same skills and knowledge as the SAT in a way that makes sense for 10th graders. It builds on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. The PSAT 10 also aligns with Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) and with the SAT that students will take in 11th grade. 

The PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and SAT provide the state, districts and schools with a longitudinal, evidence-based assessment system that measures growth in relation to essential college and career readiness. 

Looking for more information?

• Check out The College Board: PSAT
• Resources from the Colorado Department of Education
  • PSAT and SAT in Colorado Fact Sheet 
  • PSAT & SAT Overview and Testing Dates

PSAT 8/9 will be administered on 4/18/2024 and PSAT 10 will be administered on 4/17/2024 at most high schools.

Colorado has administered a college entrance exam each spring to all 11th grade students enrolled in public schools since 2001. In 2015, the Colorado legislature passed House Bill 15-1323, requiring the state to competitively bid for a new 10th grade exam that is aligned to both the Colorado Academic Standards and an 11th grade college entrance exam. The legislation also added the opportunity for students to take an additional, optional essay as part of their college entrance exam at no cost to the student.

The PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and SAT provide the state, districts and schools with a longitudinal, evidence-based assessment system that measures growth in relation to essential college and career readiness. 

Looking for more information?

• Check out The College Board: SAT
• Resources from the Colorado Department of Education
  • PSAT and SAT in Colorado Fact Sheet 
  • PSAT & SAT Overview and Testing Dates

SAT will be administered on April 16, 2024.

Under construction... content to come.

Under construction... content to come. 

Under construction... content to come. 

Included assessments are: iReady or iStation (elementary) and CommonLit (middle level)

Read Act Assessments are administered to progress monitor students who are demonstrating developing or emerging literacy skills and to evaluate students' growth and achievement in reaching reading proficiency. 

Please contact your school for specific testing dates.