Assessments
CSI schools are required to administer national and state assessments annually. Additionally, schools must select interim achievement tests in ELA and mathematics to be administered at the beginning and end of each school year.
CSI’s Senior Assessment Specialist provides School Assessment Coordinators (SACs) training, technical assistance, and resources to ensure the proper administration of required assessments.
Contact
Kali Winn
Senior Assessment Specialist(303) 532-7403
State Assessment Windows Spring 2026
State Assessment Calendar [docx]
| Assessment | Test Administration Window | Students to Test |
| WIDA ACCESS | January 12 through February 13 | Multilingual Learners K through 12 |
| NAEP | January 26 through March 20 | Grades 4 and 8 at selected schools only |
| CMAS/CoAlt | April 6 through April 24 | Grades 3 through 8 and 11 |
| PSAT/SAT/High School CoAlt | April 13 through April 24 | Grades 9 through 11 |
School Assessment Coordinator Toolkit
General Resources
- SAC Orientation Slides [pptx]
- SAC Guide [docx]
- Critical Deadlines [xlsx]
-
Staff Training Checklist [docx]
Accommodations
- Accommodation Crosswalk [xlsx]
- Accomodations Training Slides [pptx]
LearnWorlds Platform
WIDA ACCESS
All Multilingual Learners (NEP and LEP), including students with disabilities, are required to participate in the state English language proficency assessment. There are three participation options:
- WIDA ACCESS standard administration
- WIDA ACCESS with accommodations (for details, refer to the current year WIDA ACCESS accommodations manual)
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS for students with significant cognitive disabilities receiving instruction based on the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEO) of the Colorado Academic Standards
Guidance
Forms
Submit in Google Drive
November 24
December 5
March 2026
NAEP
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative measure of student achievement in the United States. NAEP provides important information on student performance across states and over time.
In Colorado, NAEP is administered to randomly selected schools and students in grades 4 and 8. Participation in NAEP fulfills federal reporting requirements and helps inform comparisons of educational progress nationwide. The NAEP State Coordinator works directly with CSI schools for NAEP administration. Colorado NAEP website
CMAS
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) is Colorado’s standards-based assessment designed to measure the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS). CMAS indicates the degree to which students have mastered the expectations of the CAS in each content area at the end of the tested grade level. CMAS results provide one measure of a student’s academic progress relative to the CAS.
CMAS tests in four content areas:
- English language arts/literacy (ELA)
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Forms
Submit in GoogleDrive
December 1
- CMAS Calculator UAR Form [pdf]
- CMAS Math Charts and Counters UAR Form [pdf]
- CMAS Spoken Response UAR Form [pdf]
December 5
PSAT/SAT
Students in grades 9-11 participate in the SAT Suite of Assessments each spring as part of the state’s accountability system. These college readiness exams are aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) and provide information about students’ academic strengths and areas for growth.
- 9th grade students take the PSAT 8/9, which helps establish a baseline for college and career readiness.
- 10th grade students take the PSAT 10, which builds on prior learning and prepares students for the SAT.
- 11th grade students take the SAT, a college entrance exam accepted by all U.S. colleges and universities.
Guidance
Forms
Colorado Alternate Assessments
Alternate assessments are designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in general state assessments, even with accommodations. These students take alternate assessments in place of the standard CMAS, PSAT/SAT, or WIDA ACCESS assessments. The alternate assessments measure student performance on the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEOs) of the Colorado Academic Standards and provide information about student learning and growth.
Alternate assessments include:
- CoAlt DLM (Dynamic Learning Maps) for English Language Arts and Mathematics
- CoAlt Science and Social Studies
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS for English language proficiency
Platform
Kite Educator Portal (CoAlt DLM)
PearsonAccessnext (CoAlt Sci, SS)
WIDA AMS (Alternate ACCESS)
WIDA ACCESS
All Multilingual Learners (NEP and LEP), including students with disabilities, are required to participate in the state English language proficency assessment. There are three participation options:
- WIDA ACCESS standard administration
- WIDA ACCESS with accommodations (for details, refer to the current year WIDA ACCESS accommodations manual)
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS for students with significant cognitive disabilities receiving instruction based on the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEO) of the Colorado Academic Standards
Guidance
Forms
Submit in Google Drive
November 24
December 5
March 2026
National NAEP
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative measure of student achievement in the United States. NAEP provides important information on student performance across states and over time.
In Colorado, NAEP is administered to randomly selected schools and students in grades 4 and 8. Participation in NAEP fulfills federal reporting requirements and helps inform comparisons of educational progress nationwide. The NAEP State Coordinator works directly with CSI schools for NAEP administration. Colorado NAEP website
CMAS
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) is Colorado’s standards-based assessment designed to measure the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS). CMAS indicates the degree to which students have mastered the expectations of the CAS in each content area at the end of the tested grade level. CMAS results provide one measure of a student’s academic progress relative to the CAS.
CMAS tests in four content areas:
- English language arts/literacy (ELA)
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Forms
Submit in GoogleDrive
December 1
- CMAS Calculator UAR Form [pdf]
- CMAS Math Charts and Counters UAR Form [pdf]
- CMAS Spoken Response UAR Form [pdf]
December 5
PSAT & SAT
Students in grades 9-11 participate in the SAT Suite of Assessments each spring as part of the state’s accountability system. These college readiness exams are aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) and provide information about students’ academic strengths and areas for growth.
- 9th grade students take the PSAT 8/9, which helps establish a baseline for college and career readiness.
- 10th grade students take the PSAT 10, which builds on prior learning and prepares students for the SAT.
- 11th grade students take the SAT, a college entrance exam accepted by all U.S. colleges and universities.
Colorado Alternate Assessment (CoAlt)
Alternate assessments are designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in general state assessments, even with accommodations. These students take alternate assessments in place of the standard CMAS, PSAT/SAT, or WIDA ACCESS assessments. The alternate assessments measure student performance on the Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEOs) of the Colorado Academic Standards and provide information about student learning and growth.
Alternate assessments include:
- CoAlt DLM (Dynamic Learning Maps) for English Language Arts and Mathematics
- CoAlt Science and Social Studies
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS for English language proficiency
Platform
Kite Educator Portal (CoAlt DLM)
PearsonAccessnext (CoAlt Sci, SS)
WIDA AMS (Alternate ACCESS)