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 (mid-April, exact date to be determined) and PSAT 10 will be administered on (mid-April, exact date to be determined) 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 (mid-April, exact date to be determined).

Included assessments are: mCLASS with DIBELS (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.

Students in our district take interim assessments in math and literacy throughout the year. These assessments help teachers understand student progress, identify strengths and needs, and plan instruction. Most assessments are given three times a year: at the beginning, middle, and end.

Please review our assessment calendar for our assessment windows. For specific testing dates, please contact your child’s school. 

Grades 1-5

Students in grades 1 through 5 take the IXL Math Level-Up Diagnostic three times a year.  This adaptive assessment measures student achievement over time and provides personalized action plans for growth. It adapts to each learner and identifies recommended math skills across strands, or broad skill categories such as Numbers and Operations. Students receive a Technical Scale Score, which reflects their current achievement level relative to grade-level readiness by considering accuracy, reasoning, and time on tasks. Additionally, students receive a Smart Score for each skill they practice, with scores adjusting dynamically based on question difficulty, consistency, and performance. 

For more information, visit Parent/guardian resources

Grades 6-8 (not taking Algebra or Geometry)

Students in grades 6 through 8 who are not enrolled in Algebra or Geometry take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment three times a year. The MAP assessment is an adaptive assessment that provides a RIT score which reflects both a student’s current achievement and their growth over time. The assessment also offers normative data, enabling educators to compare student performance and growth with academic peers nationwide, thereby informing instructional decisions and providing valuable context at both the student and school levels. 

For more information, visit Parent/guardian resources / Recursos para padres/tutores 

Grades 6-8

HMH Ed Into Math unit assessments, administered one per semester, are designed to measure student achievement on a subset of math standards, tied to one module of instruction.  The data from these assessments support educators to reflect on and inform next steps in their instruction.  

Visit the Family Room to find your student’s assignments & assessments, online learning sessions, and supporting resources.

Grades 6-12 (Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry students)

Students in grades 6 through 12 who are enrolled in Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry take the ALEKS Knowledge Check three times a year. ALEKS is an adaptive math assessment that evaluates students’ knowledge and skills within their course. Results are displayed in a pie chart that tracks topic mastery and progress over time, showing both mastered and practiced skills. Data from the assessments are used to create personalized action plans, guide instruction, and monitor growth from the beginning to the end of the year. 

For more information, visit Parent/guardian resources

Students in our district take interim assessments in math and literacy throughout the year. These assessments help teachers understand student progress, identify strengths and needs, and plan instruction. Most assessments are given three times a year: at the beginning, middle, and end.

Please review our assessment calendar for our assessment windows. For specific testing dates, please contact your child’s school. 

Grades K-5

Students in kindergarten through grade 5 take mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition or Lectura three times a year. This research-based assessment system measures early literacy and reading skills. It provides reliable screening and progress monitoring of foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, spelling, rapid naming, and comprehension. The results provide actionable data to guide instruction, plan interventions, and track student growth. 

For more information, visit Parent/guardian resources /Recursos para padres/tutores

In addition, students take HMH Into Reading or Arriba La Lectura end-of-unit assessments, which are embedded within the Into Reading curriculum.  They are designed to evaluate student mastery of the key reading and language arts skills taught throughout each unit. These assessments align with grade-level standards and the curriculum’s instructional focus, covering areas such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and writing. The results help teachers measure progress, identify areas where support may be needed, and plan instruction for upcoming units.

Visit the Parent/guardian page, for guidance on how to access family resources.

Grades 6-12

The CommonLit Assessment Series is administered to students in grades 6 through 12.  These assessments include literary and informational texts to measure reading comprehension and growth. Results offer reliable data on student performance, highlight strengths and areas for growth, and support instruction, differentiation, and progress toward grade-level standards.   

For more information, visit Parent/guardian resources / Recursos para padres/tutores

Grades 6-8

The InnerOrbit Assessment measures how well students have mastered science content aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These assessments reflect the format and rigor of state tests and help teachers understand student growth and achievement. Results are used to guide instruction, plan for future learning, and support continuous improvement at the classroom, school, and district levels.

Learn more by clicking on the Family Guide

Teaching Strategies GOLD® is an authentic observation-based assessment system for children from birth through 3rd grade. Boulder Valley School District completes this assessment in Preschool and Kindergarten for all students. Gold® presents progressions of development and learning for objectives in the areas of social–emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development and in the content areas of literacy, mathematics, and English-language acquisition. The GOLD objectives are aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards.  Preschool teachers complete checkpoints 3 times/year (October, February, May) and Kindergarten teachers complete checkpoints 2 times/year (October and May).