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, science, and social studies at the end of the tested grade level and content area. CMAS results provide one measure of a student’s academic progress relative to the CAS.

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)

The CMAS assessments were developed by the Colorado Department of Education in a partnership with Colorado educators and Pearson, Inc., ensuring alignment to the CAS and measuring knowledge in the following content areas:

  • Mathematics
  • English Language Arts, including Colorado Spanish Language Arts (CSLA)
  • Science
  • Social Studies
CoAlt: Science and Social Studies

The CoAlt science and social studies assessments were developed specifically for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in CMAS, even with individualized support and accommodations. The CoAlt assessment assesses the performance expectations of the Extended Evidence Outcomes of the CAS.

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Colorado Dept. of Education (CDE)
CDE Assessment Webpage
COAssessments.com

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Contact COLORADO Support

For assistance with PearsonAccessnext access and permissions (new and existing accounts)

Refer to the following support structure:

  • Test Administrators and school-level users* contact School Assessment Coordinators (SAC).
  • SACs and other district-level users* contact District Assessment Coordinators (DAC).
  • Official DACs contact the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

*Includes Technology Coordinators, Sensitive Data, OnDemand and Published Report roles.

Notes:

  • PearsonAccessnext accounts are periodically disabled while CDE and Pearson complete system setup activities.
    • December 16, 2024 through January 5, 2025
    • January 25 through February 2, 2025
    • Beginning May 7, 2025 at 11:59 PM
      • Official DACs regain access when spring 2025 data files and reports become available
    • Pearson Customer Support cannot provide system access to any user. CDE can only provide system access to the official superintendent-appointed DAC. All other user accounts are created and maintained locally by assessment coordinators (includes enabling accounts after periodic lockouts).
    • Pearson Customer Support can help with password resets, system navigation, and using system features.