District 49 uses a variety of assessments that allows teachers to tailor and customize instruction for each student.  Different types of assessment serve different goals in the educational process.  With these differing assessments, it might seem like an abundance of testing.  In reality, students are assessed less than 2% of the time they are in school in District 49. 

State and federal law require district students to take standardized assessments in the instructional areas of English language arts, math and science.  State law requires students to also take standardized assessment in the instructional area of social studies. The district administers standardized assessments in accordance to these state and federal requirements.

District 49’s mission is to be the best choice to learn, work and lead and to prepare students to be successful.  District 49 uses these assessments and others to determine the level of achievement and growth of our students, ensure appropriate instruction and resources for students, evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum, instruction and leadership, and determine the performance level of students, schools, and the district.

INTERIM ASSESSMENTS
Schools have a menu of assessments they can choose from based on their needs.  Benchmark and interim assessments are given periodically throughout the year and happen “in the middle learning”.  Some interim assessments that may be used in District 49 include but are not limited to:  Acadience Reading, Acadience Math, Star 360, and Aimsweb Plus. 

More frequent and informal assessments for District 49 include: progress monitoring, class assignments and teacher made assessments. Assessment happens all day, every day in instruction through things like questioning, checks for understanding, exit tickets and quizzes.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
State assessments are an example of summative assessments.  Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) is the state assessment system required of students in public schools.  Students take state assessments based on grade level and need.  As testing approaches, schools communicate testing schedules with families.

CMAS:  English Language Arts, Math, Science & Social Studies and CoAlt:  Science & Social Studies
The CMAS test measures the Colorado Academic Standards in the content areas of reading and writing, science and social studies.  A small number of students with significant cognitive disabilities who meet specific criteria may demonstrate their content knowledge on the Colorado Alternate Assessment, CoAlt.  Schools taking the social studies assessment will be selected by the state through a sampling process and will only take social studies every three years. 

CMAS assessments measure students' acquisition of the standards.  Colorado educators set cut scores for each test based on the specific content that students should be able to engage with at the four performance levels.  Students scoring in the met and exceeded levels are on track for career and college readiness.

DYNAMIC LEARNING MAPS:  ELA & MATH 
Students who take CoAlt for science and social studies also take DLM to assess their achievement on the extended evidence outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards in English language art and mathematics.

ACCESS:  English Language Proficiency
ACCESS annually measures the attainment of English proficiency by English language learners in the areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing.

HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS
Eleventh-graders take the SAT exam.  Ninth-graders and tenth-graders take the PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 exams which, along with the 11^th grade SAT exam, are aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards. These assessments are used as part of college entrance criteria and indicate career readiness. 

Welcome Students, Parents and Teachers to the 2024 Assessment Season!

Please read this document in its entirety for concise information about the SAT (standard & optional essay), PSAT 9, PSAT 10 and CMAS 11 Science.

Parents and students: The tests will be given on April 17-19 in the morning.  Students that are not testing will remain at home, this includes SENIORS.  Students that have been opted out will be excused from testing on all three days.  Attendance will be updated each day after the exams begin, please be patient as attendance is being put into PowerSchool.

DIGITAL Testing:  The 2024 testing sessions will be DIGITAL.   With this expectation in place, no DIGITAL assignments will be given during the testing window. However, teachers will have the discretion to utilize paper assignments to complete.

Lunches: Limited grab and go lunch bags will be provided for the first 75 students each day.  Otherwise, students will leave prior to any regular scheduled lunches.    

Schedule:This is subject to change, if there are any changes FHS will communicate those changes as soon as possible. **Please note if your student receives SSD accommodations the testing window will be different.

Testing Times: Please note that students will NOT be allowed to leave the testing session early unless there is an emergency.  Students are allowed to be picked up from the school as soon as testing is complete.  In order to continue to allow a secure testing session please make sure that you are at the school within 30 minutes or sooner after your students session is finished.  FHS appreciates your cooperation in making sure students are picked up in a timely manner.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Calculator--The digital platform does offer a calculator within the testing platform, but students are allowed to bring their own and must be cleared prior to entering the testing room.  Approved calculator list for state testing 

• FHS ID--ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR FHS ID in order to enter the building and enter the testing rooms.

• Pencils--Students will be allowed one piece of scratch paper during the test to complete calculations 

• Snack or water--Students can bring water in a closed container and a snack to eat during breaks.  All items must be placed on the floor. 

•  

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

• NO CELL PHONES, SMART WATCHES, Ipads, Ipods or any other kind of digital device will be allowed.  Students will check in these devices into their proctor.  ONLY students that have approved medical accommodations will be allowed to have their device near the desk during testing (ie diabetics with pump).

• NO Backpacks 

• NO blankets

• NO Hats or hoodies during testing

Transportation: Buses for grades 9-11 will run on a normal schedule.  Students that ride the bus will remain in the commons until the designated check in times.  Students are encouraged to be picked up AFTER testing is over.  ONLY students that are unable to be picked up will remain in the commons until 2:40 pm.

Make Up sessions:  Students that are ill will be placed in the makeup sessions on April 24th-26th during the school day.  All students in the make up session will be excused from classes while testing. 

OPT OUT: The state testing preference form was sent out on March 8th and expired on March 17th for planning purposes. The State of Colorado allows for parents to choose to opt their student out of testing, but the national requirements for each school’s participation is 95% higher.  Let’s do our part and put FHS as the highest testing school in D49.  FHS State Testing Opt Out Form

COST: NO cost to students or families (School Day testing only)

Purpose: These state-mandated assessments provide valuable feedback about students’ current achievement levels and offer guidance regarding college and career readiness as well as new CDE mastery guidelines for graduation.  For more information on state testing please visit D49 Assessment Website

If you have any questions about testing please contact Mrs. Jennifer Gregg at jennifer.gregg@CO01900838.schoolwires.net