Resources for Teachers

Click here to go to the Department of Assessment and Performance Analytics site in the Backyard (for CCSD employees only).

For a printable assessment calendar for the 2026-27 school year, click here.

For more information about each assessment, click on the test name in the Backyard (CCSD employees only)

ACCESS
Grade:  Kindergarten-12 (English Language Learners)
Testing Window:  January 11-February 12, 2027
Purpose:  Assesses English language proficiency in listening, reading, speaking and writing  

ACT WorkKeys
Grade:  12
Testing Windows: 
October 5-December 4, 2026;
January 11-February 26, 2027;
April 5-May 21, 2027
Purpose:  In order to meet graduation guidelines criteria, students must earn the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate by scoring at Bronze (3) or higher in Applied Mathematics, Workplace Documents AND Graphic Literacy.    

Alternate CMAS CoAlt
Grade:  4-8 and 11
Testing Window:  April 5-23, 2027
Purpose:  Provide a performance level at which students with significant cognitive disabilities meet the Colorado Academic Standards in Science and Social Studies.  

Alternate DLM/Kite
Grade:  3-11
Testing Window:  April 5-23, 2027
Purpose:  Alternate for CMAS, PSAT/SAT and will provide a common measure of academic achievement for students with significant cognitive disabilities.  

CMAS
Grade:  3-8
Testing Window:  April 5-23, 2027
Purpose:  Provide a picture of student performance to schools, districts, teachers, parents and the community on how students are progressing academically.  

CMAS
Grade:  11 (Science Only)
Testing Date:  April 15, 2027
Purpose:  Provide a picture of student performance to schools, districts, teachers, parents and the community on how students are progressing academically.  

CogAT
Grade:  2 and 6
Testing Window:  August 31-October 2, 2026
Purpose:  Part of a Body of Evidence (BOE) to determine if students qualify for Gifted & Talented Services  

Iowa
Grade:  2 and 6
Testing Window:  September 14-November 13, 2026
Purpose:  Part of a Body of Evidence (BOE) to determine if students qualify for Gifted & Talented Services.  For students who score 90% or higher on the CogAT.  These assessments measure achievement in several important content areas including Reading, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.  

Kindergarten Prescreener
Grade:  Kindergarten
Testing Window:  At or before the beginning of the school year
Purpose:  Early Reading and Math Subtests.  Used by Kindergarten teachers to determine what their students know, what they can do and how that relates to important objectives for development and learning.    

Kindergarten Readiness
Grade:  Kindergarten
Testing Window:  Within the first 60 calendar days of school
Purpose:  Used by Kindergarten teachers to determine what their students know, what they can do and how that relates to important objectives for development and learning.

PSAT/CoPSAT (Colorado PSAT)
Grade:  9
Testing Date:  April 15, 2027
Purpose:  Determine post secondary readiness.

PSAT/CoPSAT (Colorado PSAT)
Grade: 10
Testing Date:  April 14, 2027
Purpose:  Determine post secondary readiness.  

SAT/CoSAT (Colorado SAT)
Grade:  11
Testing Date:  April 14, 2027 
Purpose:  Determine post secondary readiness.

Star Assessment  
Grade:  Kindergarten-8
Testing Windows:  
Beginning of Year:  September 28-October 9 (Kindergarten ONLY), August 24-September 4, 2026   
Mid-Year:  December 7-December 18, 2026     
End of Year:  April 26-May 14, 2027
Purpose:  To effectively track progress towards CCSD's priority of instructional excellence.  The beginning of year assessment also fulfills the Colorado READ Act requirements for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade.