TCAP, CMAS, CO ACT, PARCC — WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?PARCC: This is the assessment that will replace TCAP and is aligned with COMMON CORE, read more about it here. In 2012 Colorado became a governing member of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) consortia which is currently developing new assessments in English language arts and mathematics for grades 3-8 and high school. PARCC is only taken in certain districts that are field testing this year. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared. Starting 2014/2015, PARCC tests are slated to be taken twice yearly in all Colorado schools.
NY schools are field testing PARCC this year; see here for a long list of problems they have had with PARCC. See here for a comprehensive list about PARCC and standardized testing. This blog site "Testing Talk" is state by state comments by real teachers piloting common core tests-and exposing the problems with the test. Click to read what CO teachers say about PARCC.
TCAP: Transitional Colorado Assessment Program reflects changes in the 2010 state adopted academic content standards and to provide information to teachers as they began incorporating the revised content standards in their daily instruction. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared. How many days will your child spend practicing for these tests? How many days spent on taking the tests? Expect more time spent on PARCC testing.
CMAS: Colorado Measure of Academic Success: Science & Social Studies-Taken in grades 4-8-see staggered schedule on website. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared.
CO ALT: is administered to students with significant cognitive disabilities who are instructed and assessed on alternate achievement standards.
The CO ACT: assessment is designed to measure students' preparedness for postsecondary educational opportunities and is administered to 11th grade students in April and May. This is the college readiness test. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared.
TCAP: Transitional Colorado Assessment Program reflects changes in the 2010 state adopted academic content standards and to provide information to teachers as they began incorporating the revised content standards in their daily instruction. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared. How many days will your child spend practicing for these tests? How many days spent on taking the tests? Expect more time spent on PARCC testing.
CMAS: Colorado Measure of Academic Success: Science & Social Studies-Taken in grades 4-8-see staggered schedule on website. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared.
CO ALT: is administered to students with significant cognitive disabilities who are instructed and assessed on alternate achievement standards.
The CO ACT: assessment is designed to measure students' preparedness for postsecondary educational opportunities and is administered to 11th grade students in April and May. This is the college readiness test. Taken on a computer; data is collected and shared.