State-Mandated Testing
Documents
(all documents will be linked when available)
CMAS Testing -- Parent FAQ and Assessment Information and Directions
DCSD Assessment Schedule, 2025-26 (tbd)
Cresthill Middle School: Excusal Information Letter (posted soon)
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Note: If excused from testing, students should not come to school as there will be no instructional setting available for them as staff will be acting as Test Administrators. Thank you.
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State Testing Excusal Form Directions (see below)
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No more paper-based testing (except for accommodations) — starts spring 2026. Accommodations could be:
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Students who qualify for the paper-based assessment must have:
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an active IEP/504 plan
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a documented disability that directly impacts their access to computerized technology and therefore prevents their access to the digital assessment
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e.g., epilepsy, other seizure disorder, neurological disorder that prevents access computerized technology, etc.
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State Testing Excusal Information
State Testing Excusal opens on October 1, 2025. Please submit excusals information by December 19, 2025 if possible. If you are interested in pursuing assessment excusal for your student, please first do the following:
-Read through the presentation linked here-
If, after reading through the information, you are still interested in pursuing excusal from the upcoming CMAS assessments, please reach out to the School Assessment Coordinator, Mark Wakefield (mdwakefield@dcsdk12.org), or the front office and ask for Julie Fairbairn (303.387.2800). We would like to know more about your reason(s) for wanting to excuse your student from testing. Thank you!
If you are absolutely certain you would like to excuse your student from testing, please follow the directions on this document.
Dear CMS Families,
Let me begin by clearing up any questions over what CMAS testing is for Cresthill. CMAS is the overarching category to describe CMAS, and the more specialized WIDA/ACCESS, DLM, and CoAlt assessments.
7th graders will take:
- CMAS English Language Arts
- CMAS Mathematics
8th graders will take:
- CMAS English Language Arts
- CMAS Mathematics
- CMAS Science
We at Cresthill work diligently to meet the requirements and procedures for state-mandated assessments and the demands of a rigorous and continuing learning environment. To best plan for the needs of our students we are asking our community to have conversations about individual wishes for participation in these assessments sooner rather than later. If you determine that you do not wish to participate in CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) testing this spring we ask that you use the district procedure and excuse your students at your earliest convenience. We strongly encourage you to allow your child the opportunity to participate in these assessments. Not only does this information and data help us as a learning community but it is also a great opportunity to engage in a formal assessment of this type before the "stakes" get a little higher (e.g., high school and post-secondary assessments, job and career testing, and military pre-service assessments). Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued support in Cresthill,
Professional Learning Specialist
School Assessment Coordinator
303-387-2807
For help accessing the Parent Portal:
Charise Hunter – School Registrar
303.387.2810
Other questions:
Gina Chambers -- Assistant Principal
303.387.2807