All Jeffco students participate in state and district tests to assess their progress toward the Colorado State Standards. This information is used to help teachers identify each student’s instructional needs and for parents to know what and how their child is learning. The assessments are also used in combination with other measures to gauge how well schools in Jeffco are supporting the achievement of all of their students. Tests that Jeffco students take are listed below.
This year as students across Colorado sit down to take the statewide summative assessment, they will not see the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) on their desks. Instead, students in grades three through 10 will take the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP), a test that will use assessment items that are common to both the previous Colorado Model Content Standards and the new Colorado Academic Standards.
The assessment transition plan called for CSAP to be administered for the final time in 2011 and for TCAP to be administered in 2012. In 2013, students will be given the TCAP and they will also be given pilot assessment items that might appear on the new summative assessment that is slated to be used for the first time in spring 2014.
The TCAP will continue to assess the same content areas and grades as CSAP: math, reading and writing in grades three through 10. Science will be assessed in fifth, eighth and tenth grades
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TCAP is administered in the spring of each year. Each test includes multiple choice, short constructed response, and long constructed response questions. Reading and Writing test sessions take 60 minutes and Math and Science test sessions take 65 minutes.
Students are assigned a performance level of Unsatisfactory, Partially Proficient, Proficient, or Advanced.
Visit the School Profiles for individual school test scores. To compare Jeffco Public School results with other school districts see the Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView Web site.
The Colorado English Language Assessment is an assessment for second language learners who are not yet proficient in English.
- CELA tests a student’s ability to listen to, speak, read, and write in English. CELA is used to test only those students kindergarten through 12th grade that are not yet fully proficient in the English language.
- CELA is administered in January of each year. Each test requires students to listen and respond to directions, speak in words, sentences, and phrases, and read and write in English. Each test takes about 1 hour, depending on the grade level.
- Based on their performance, students will receive a designation of non-English proficient, limited English proficient, or fully English proficient.
DIBELS is a quick screener to help teachers know if students are on track in the development of their reading skills.
- DIBELS is administered to students in grades K-3 (some schools use DIBELS up to and including the 6th grade).
- DIBELS is administered by the teacher in the fall, winter, and spring.
- Students will be classified as at risk, at some risk, and at low risk.
DRA2 is an assessment that teachers use in the classroom to help them determine how well students are reading different types of text.
- DRA2 helps teachers to determine independent reading level and instructional needs and primarily is administered to grades kindergarten to 3rd grade students at least once during the school year.
- The test uses benchmarked reading books ranging from levels A to 40 to determine the reading level for students.
- Students are scored on reading engagement, fluency, and comprehension.
There are a few students with an Individual Education Program (IEP) who will not be able to take the general TCAP because of the nature and intensity of their disability. The CoAlt is designed to help teachers and parents know how these students are meeting the Colorado Model Content Standards in the content areas assessed.
- CoAlt tests students reading, writing, and math skills in grades 3-10. Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 also are tested in science.
- CoAlt is administered in the spring of each year. Rather than paper and pencil tests, students are rated on their response to tasks presented by the teacher.
- Based on their performance, students receive a rating of inconclusive, emerging, exploring, developing, or novice
The Colorado ACT is an assessment of 11th grade students to determine their level of college readiness.
- CO ACT tests English, mathematics, reading, and science. Students in grade 11 are tested each year in the spring.
- Students may take the National ACT again in the 12th grade as a part of their college entrance requirements.
- Students receive an overall composite score and subtest scores for each content area.
Acuity is a computer-based test that measures how students are progressing throughout the year in meeting the expectations of the Colorado State Standards.
- Acuity assesses students in reading, math, and science.
- Students in grades 3-10 take the assessment on the computer in the fall, winter, and spring. Information is used to help teachers plan for instruction and individual student intervention.
- Scores include total percent of points earned as well as tier performance (e.g., tier 1 is lowest and tier 4 is highest).
The Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView Web site provides the results for all district and individual school performance data. Additional information about Jeffco Public Schools' performance can be found in the annual report to the community, on each school's online profile.
Jeffco Public Schools Assessment and Research Department exists to provide information to administrators, teachers, parents, and students to help guide instruction in the classroom and to determine how well schools are performing to ensure that every Jeffco student is achieving. For additional information, call 303-982-6565.