DCSD Assessment Policy (Board File)
DCSD Assessment Schedule
HB 15-1323
Assessment Descriptions/Windows
School Readiness TS Gold- Kindergarten (State of CO Required)
This is an observational assessment administered at different times throughout the window given. School Readiness reports are shared with families mid November.
For more information please see the DCSD Parent Information Flyer.
TS Gold Assessment Window (Fall only)
August 8-October 6, 2022
Curriculum Associates - iReady Reading and Math (School and Teacher Selected, meets CO State requirements for READ Act)
Total Testing Time: 45-60 minutes three times per year per content area
All K-5th students are assessed t in Reading and Math in the Fall, Winter and Spring. This assessment pinpoints student needs down to the sub-skill level, and ongoing progress monitoring shows whether students are on track to achieve end-of-year targets. Teachers use this instant information to plan next steps for instruction and to track growth over time, as well as for placement in i-Ready's online instructional tool.
iReady Reading Assessment Window for Fall
1st through 5th grade:
Fall : August 22- September 16, 2022
Kindergarten Window:
Fall: August 29- September 22, 2022
Winter: November 29-December 16, 2022
Spring: April 25-May 10, 2023
Cognitive Abilities Test -CogAT (State of Colorado required)
Total testing time- 90 minutes
Students in 2nd and 5th grade are assessed with CogAT each school year. This is an assessment that indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates. The results of these test scores will be used to drive instructional practices in the classroom, guide efforts to adapt teaching methods to the needs and abilities of students, and can be used as one component of the body of evidence to determine areas of strength and possible identification for gifted programming.
(Students in 1st, 3rd and 4th grade may be referred to testing by a parent and/or teacher. There is a deadline for the referral process. Letters went out this year both online and in Thursday folders with details).
CogAT Testing Window:
Testing dates- November 1-18, 2022 for 5th Graders
February 6-24, 2023 for 2nd graders & referrals
Colorado Measures of Academic Success- CMAS - Math, ELA
(State of Colorado Required)
Total Testing Time: Grade 3 (8.25 Hours) Grades 4-5 (8.5 Hours)
This online statewide standardized assessment is administered in the Spring of each school year in the areas of literacy and math for all 3rd through 5th grade students. These assessments are designed to give schools and teachers more information to improve instruction. Moreover, these assessments are designed to let parents know how their child is progressing academically.
CMAS Assessment Window:
April 10-28, 2023
DLM (Dynamic Learning Maps for students who qualify) - (State of Colorado Required)
Total Testing Time: Individually administered and untimed
The Dynamic Learning Maps™ (DLM®) project offers an innovative way for all students with significant cognitive disabilities to demonstrate their learning throughout the school year via the DLM Alternate Assessment System.
Assessment Window:
April 10-28, 2023
Colorado Measures of Academic Success- CMAS - 5th Science, 4th Social Studies
(State of Colorado Required) Total Testing Time: 4 hours
This online statewide standardized assessment is administered in the Spring of each school year in the area of Social Studies in 4th grade and Science in 5th grade. This is the state’s large scale assessment designed to measure student performance in the Colorado Academic Standards in Science and Social Studies.
Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will take the science assessments. The social studies assessments will be administered in grades 4 and 7 on a sampling basis to one-third of the schools in 2021. Schools TBD
CMAS Testing Window:
April 10- 28, 2023
CoAlt (Colorado Alternative) for CMAS (students who qualify)
April 10- 28, 2023
Total Testing Time: Individually administered and untimed
ACCESS for ELLs (State/Federal Required)
Total testing time: 2.75 hours (or 165 minutes) total for Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing
ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment given to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs).
Assessment Window:
January 9 - February 10, 2023
As with any activity in school we wish to maintain a partnership with our families. In the event that you have concerns over any of our assessment practices, I encourage that you contact me to discuss your concerns and to collaboratively move forward with an assessment plan that makes sense for your child, your family, and our student.
If a decision is made to excuse your child from testing, please complete the testing excusal process by December 15th, 2021(process linked HERE) and contact Mark Harrell or Chandra Baca to discuss options.
If you are a parent/guardian requesting a paper version of the assessment, please email Chandra Baca at [email protected] by December 2, 2022.
FTE building testing schedule-TBA and linked under TESTING SCHEDULE
Thank you,
Mark Harrell
Chandra Baca