Colorado State Assessment Program (CSAP)

• The assessments measure how well students are meeting the standards. They do not measure whether a child can read, write, spell, add, or subtract. This is a common misunderstanding about the assessments, one that has given rise to comments such as, "Most children in Colorado can't read." The assessments measure a child against the standards, not against other children or groups of children. This is different than other standardized achievement tests, such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, that compare a child with other children.
  
• The state assessments were developed by teachers, curriculum directors, and CTB/McGraw Hill, the firm the State Board hired to write the actual assessment instruments. The assessments are based directly on the standards – they test whether a child has achieved each standard. Teachers and test experts checked the assessments for grade and content appropriateness. Parents, community members, and business leaders reviewed each assessment item to be certain it was fair. The state assessments are called CSAP (Colorado State Assessment Program).
  
• The assessments rate students on four levels of achievement: Advanced, Proficient, Partially Proficient, and Unsatisfactory. The result is a continuum on which all students are placed according to how they score, from Advanced to Unsatisfactory.
  
• In the spring of 1997, 1998, and 1999, all fourth graders took the reading and writing CSAP assessment. In reading: 1997 – 57% of fourth graders Advanced or Proficient; 1998 – 57% Advanced or Proficient; 1999 – 59% Advanced or Proficient. In writing: 1997 – 31% of fourth graders Advanced or Proficient; 1998 – 36% Advanced or Proficient; 1999 – 34% Advanced or Proficient.
  
• In the spring of 1999, all seventh graders took the reading and writing CSAP assessment. The scores showed: 56% Advanced or Proficient in reading; 41% Advanced or Proficient in writing.
  
• All students in a grade level that takes CSAP are included in the "denominator" and only a few are excluded because they are special needs students or do not speak, write, or read English. On average, only three percent of students in a grade level are excluded.
  
• Students in grade 5 took the math CSAP in the fall of 1999, but the scores have not been released yet.
• In the spring of 2000, eighth graders will take the CSAP assessments in math and science. In 2001, tenth graders will take CSAP in reading, writing, and math. As CSAP is expanded across grade levels and subject areas, the earlier assessments will continue. The schedule of CSAP assessments is set by the Legislature in law and will continue unless the Legislature changes it.

On CDE's Standards in Action web site, you'll find resources for improving instruction, curriculum units, and sample assessments.