When are students tested? 1
3rd grade
4th grade
Projected for future: 5th and 8th grades
What subjects are tested? 1
Reading
Writing
Projected for future: Mathematics and Science
What types of questions are used? 1
Multiple choice
Short written response
Extended written response
How are test results used? 1
Student diagnosis
Student placement
Improvement of instruction
School and district accountability
What tests are used? 1
Colorado Student Assessment Program
Are students with disabilities exempt?
2, 3
Exemptions given to students not working toward district or state standards
and where assessments are not appropriate, as determined by IEP team.
State Department of Education encourages inclusion of all students
in assessment.
What accommodations are available so
that students with disabilities can participate? 2
List of accommodations approved by state Department of Education.
How are scores of students with disabilities
reported? 2
School, district, and statewide reports both combine ("aggregate")
and separate ("disaggregate") scores of students with and without disabilities.
Footnotes:
1 Source: PEER Project Survey to expand and update information from Annual Survey of State Student Assessment Programs: Data on 1995-96 Statewide Student Assessment Programs. (Fall 1996). Council of Chief State School Officers.
2 Source: PEER Project review of state policy documents. Documents provided by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Information confirmed and updated by the PEER Project through direct communication with state officials.
3 NOTE: The IDEA Amendments of 1997 require that all students be included in statewide assessments.
Colorado Department of Education
Special Education Services Unit
201 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
303-866-6694
303-866-6811 Fax
www.cde.state.co.us
Contact: Lorrie Harkness, State Director of Special Education
harkness_l@cde.state.co.us
Don Watson, Supervisor, Assessment Unit
303-866-6612, Fax: 303-830-0793
Colorado Parent Center on Disability
PEAK Parent Center, Inc.
6055 Lehman Drive, Suite 101
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
719-531-9400 Voice
719-531-9403 TDD
1-800-284-0251
719-531-9452 Fax
PKPARENT@aol.com
Contact: Barbara Buswell/Judy Martz