Spring 2026 CMAS and CoAlt 

CMAS UPDATE

The CMAS testing schedule is posted below (please note that it is subject to change.) This year we are administering Math and ELA tests for all students, and Science for 8th grade only.  More information and updates are forthcoming.  Please check back throughout the year for any updates and/or changes.

Why State Assessments Matter

As part of a balanced assessment system, state assessments provide valuable information to students, families, schools, districts, the state, and taxpayers. A balanced assessment system contains formative assessments (quick checks for learning conducted by teachers throughout their class), interim assessments (more formal progress monitoring conducted several times throughout the year to see how students are progressing), and summative assessments (end-of-course/unit, end of year assessments to find out what students know and can do). 

   The state assessments are a type of summative assessment. While formative, interim, and classroom-based summative assessments inform classroom instruction regularly, state summative assessments are designed to be point-in-time snapshots of what students know and can do in core content areas. The assessment results are used by: parents/families to gauge student progress over time; teachers to inform and improve classroom practice and student placement; and schools/districts to inform program, school, and district improvement. The results are also the backbone of the state’s accountability system. They are used to populate the annual school and district performance frameworks that result in accreditation ratings for each school and district. The results can also used for teacher evaluation purposes as one of the multiple measures required under S.B. 10-191.

  CMAS Purpose and Uses for Parents

• CMAS serves as the only statewide indicator of student mastery of the Colorado State Standards. 

• CMAS provides valuable information on how our district compares to others. 

• CMAS allows parents the information to track student achievement year over year. 

• CMAS gives parents a gauge for their student's college and career readiness. 

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO CMAS PAPER-BASED TESTING

• No more paper-pencil testing (except for accommodations) — starts spring 2026. Accommodations could be:

  • Have a neurological disorder (such as recent concussion),  a condition that causes seizures, or another health condition that prevents the student from accessing the computer

  • Braille/Large Print

  • Adaptive equipment is not compatible

  • Students with disabilities that prevent them from utilizing devices safely may meet this criterion

*Please email Kathie Marcilliat at krmarcilliat@dcsdk12.org  if you have any questions.