Dear Families and Community Members,  

I hope this message finds you well. Spring has finally arrived, which means sunnier days, warmer weather, and state testing! As required by the State of Colorado, Ignacio School District tests students in grades 3-11 annually in English Language Arts and Math. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are also required to take the Science assessment. State tests are a great indicator for how your student is performing academically compared to other students across the state. School Districts use state assessments to gauge how well they are doing in teaching students the standards and preparing them for college and careers. Teachers and administrators closely look at the results to determine areas in which instruction can be improved and to identify students that need more support. The State testing window is from April 10-28. Teachers and principals will be sharing a building testing schedule with families.  

Collaboration between school districts and families is necessary in ensuring that students perform to the best of their abilities. Attendance is crucial. Students need to show up to school daily ready to learn. Teachers and families can work together to help students prepare: Practice tests can be found on https://coassessments.com/ 

Talk to your students about the test and let them know what to expect. Discuss good test taking strategies, such as reading questions twice, including all multiple-choice answers, and crossing out answers that don’t make sense. Help students to relax and remain positive: We want them to do their best! There are no grades or penalties for performance on state tests! If parents still have questions, they should reach out to their students’ teacher for support.  

Teachers have been working hard to ensure students are comfortable and ready for State testing. In elementary school, students will have CMAS buddies. Upper grade students will be assigned to lower grade students to give out snacks and words of encouragement on testing days. Campaigns such as BEAT the CMAS help to build enthusiasm and confidence around testing.   

Student academic performance is a community-wide effort, and I am grateful to work in a district that has strong community connections. This sentiment is expressed in the Ignacio School District’s mission statement, “Together we will engage, empower, and prepare all of our learners for the future.”