Why State Testing Matters at MRMS

Colorado law allows parents and guardians to excuse their student(s) from participating in state assessments. At MRMS, we respect each family’s right to make that decision. At the same time, we encourage students to participate in state assessments and to do their best when they do.

State assessments, including CMAS, provide one important measure of how well students are mastering the Colorado Academic Standards. Results provide families with information about their student’s academic achievement and growth and allow them to see how their student is performing compared with students across the school, district, and state.

For our teachers and school, state assessment results provide valuable information that helps us:

• Identify areas of academic strength and opportunities for growth.
• Understand how different groups of students are performing.
• Evaluate curriculum, instruction, programs, and interventions.
• Set schoolwide goals and make informed decisions about how we can better support students.
• Monitor academic growth and achievement over time.

Participation also matters when interpreting assessment results. When more students participate, the results provide a more complete picture of the students we serve and give educators stronger information to use when making instructional and schoolwide decisions. CDE notes that lower participation can make some comparisons and conclusions more difficult to interpret.

Our message to students is simple: Show up, give your best effort, and let us see what you know! State testing is one piece of a much larger picture of student success, but it provides information that helps us continue learning, growing, and improving together as a school community.

If you decide to excuse your child from participating in a state assessment such as CMAS or CoAlt, please follow the instructions HERE.

Please Note:

• No more paper-pencil testing (except for accommodations) and eliminates optional SAT writing section — starts spring 2026. Accommodations could be:
• Have a neurological disorder (such as recent concussion),  a condition that causes seizures, or another health condition that prevents the student from accessing the computer
• Braille/Large Print
• Adaptive equipment is not compatible
• Students with disabilities that prevent them from utilizing devices safely may meet this criterion