Dear Bulldog Parents,
Our students will begin taking the Colorado Measure of Academic Success (CMAS) tests beginning April 6, 2021, for secondary students and April 14, 2021, for elementary students. I write to give you information about CMAS testing and its purpose in regard to your student and the Peetz School District. HB21-1125 was introduced last month in the legislature for the State of Colorado to apply for a waiver to suspend CMAS testing as was done in the spring of last school year. The bill did not pass and schools are required to administer the 2021 CMAS this spring. The state has passed HB-1161, which reduces the number of CMAS tests administered, and has sent that on for federal approval. At this time we will move forward with the guidelines from HB-1161.
CMAS is administered each year across the state and the tests are a common measuring tool for Colorado students. The results help both parents and educators understand if students have mastered the content they need to know by the end of the school year as well as how our students are doing in comparison to other students at our school, our district, and across the state. Having statewide CMAS results this year will help state lawmakers and other policymakers evaluate how the pandemic has impacted student achievement across Colorado and direct resources to meet the greatest needs. Reviewing CMAS data can help our school make improvements in classrooms and programs and can help the district make improvements across schools. Based on recently proposed legislation, spring 2021 CMAS results are not expected to be included in the state school and district ratings or teacher evaluations.
The following CMAS assessments will be given this spring:
English Language Arts (Grades 3, 5, 7)
Math (Grades 4, 6, 8)
Science - 8th Grade
Social Studies - NOT administered
Colorado law requires that school districts have a policy that allows parents to excuse or “opt-out” their children from state assessments. Peetz Plateau School District’s policy ILLB aligns with those state statutes. You as the parent/ guardian may request an “opt-out” form from Mrs. Schumacher, schumacherm@peetzschool.org, if you do not want your child to participate in the CMAS testing this spring. Please request and return that form prior to March 31, 2021.
If you have any questions in regard to CMAS testing, please reach out to Mr. Forster or Mrs. Schumacher at the school. You can also visit: www.cde.state.co.us/assessment/cmas
Respectfully,
Mr. Mike Forster
K-12 Principal
Peetz School