CMAS - English Language Arts and Mathematics Assessments (PARCC) Archive

This is an archive site. Do not use any information contained on this page for current administrations. Some links may not be active. 

Spring 2018

• Spring 2018 CMAS and CoAlt Procedures Manual - PDF
• Test Administrator Manuals
  • ​Computer-based Testing TAM - PDF
  • Paper-based Testing TAM - PDF
• Guidance on Eligibility for Assessments in Spanish - PDF
• Parent Excusal Coding Fact Sheet - PDF
• Spring 2018 CMAS Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile (SR/PNP) Field Definitions and File Layout

Mathematics Assessments

• Students in grades 3-6 take the grade level assessment for their enrolled grade.
• Students in grade 7 have the option of taking Grade 7 Mathematics, Algebra I, or Integrated Mathematics I assessment.
• Students in grade 8 have the option of taking Grade 8 Mathematics, Algebra I, Geometry, or Integrated Mathematics I or II assessment.
• Calculator Use Policy for 2018 - PDF
• Directions for Clearing Graphing Calculator Memory - PDF

Information about Estimated Testing Times 2016 and 2017

PARCC estimates that students will spend the approximate lengths of time below to complete all the sessions, or timed components, of the PARCC assessments in ELA and math:

• 8.25 hours annually in 3rd grade
• 8.5 hours in grades 4–5
• A little more than 9 hours in grades 6-9

Specific unit times and scheduling considerations can be found in the 2017 PARCC Test Coordinator Manual.

• PARCC Accommodations Manual (updated 9.19.15)
• View 2016 spring training information

PARCC Test Design 

PARCC has released documents to help schools and districts understand the design of the assessment.  For ELA/L these documents include high level assessment blueprints, ELA Literacy Common forms Specifications, reading evidence tables, writing evidence tables, task models, scoring rubrics and performance level descriptors.  

For mathematics, the documents include high level assessment blueprints, claim structure documents, evidence statements, informational guides by grade level to help teachers, and performance level descriptors.  

Unique Accommodations Request (form updates annually)

In Colorado, there is additional guidance on several accommodations for ELA/L and/or mathematics. Unique accommodation requests (UAR) must be submitted to CDE via Syncplicity by December 15 for approval. 

• Guidance to determine if a student qualifies for reading access accommodations for the ELA/L assessment (e.g.,text-to-speech, sign, human reader/oral script) 
• Guidance to determine if a student qualifies for a calculator (or math tools) on the non-calculator portions of the assessment grades 3-7 is here, and the pilot for grades 8-9 is here.  
• Guidance to determine if a student qualifies for a human scribe on the ELA/L assessment  
• Instructions for other accommodations  

• Spring 2016 Test Coordinator Manual (TCM) 
• Verification of District Training Form submit via Syncplicity
• Link to the PARCC Tutorials, Sample Items, Manuals,  Practice Tests, and Technology Information (has tutorial for all forms of the test including ASL)
• Colorado-adapted PARCC Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile (SR/PNP) File layout
  • Spring 2016 CMAS: Science and Social Studies Colorado specific SR/PNP file layout
  • Spring 2016 CoAlt: Science and Social Studies Colorado specific SR/PNP file layout

2015 Spring Administration information

• Webinar on moving students 
• 2015 PARCC Summative File Layout

2017 PARCC Quick Links

Here are links for commonly requested information: 

• Accommodation Matrix 
• Guidance on Eligibility for Assessments in Spanish - PDF
• Locking and Unlocking Test Units
• Math reference sheets (updated for 2017): Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, High School  
  • Spanish math reference sheets: Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, High School 
• PARCC.Pearson.com
• 2017 Parent Excusal Coding Fact Sheet - PDF
• PearsonAccess^next Published Reports Guidance (Avocet) 
• Prepare Test Sessions in PAnext - PDF
• Test Coordinator Manual (TCM) 
• Testing Multiple Grades in a Testing Environment
• Transfer Student Guidance for Colorado
  • 2016 CO PBT Transfer Guidance Document
• The updated 2016 ISR shell has been translated into the following languages (PDF):
  Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Navajo, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. 
• Verification of District Training Form
• Void and Not Tested Codes and Reasons (Procedures Manual - Appendix K)

2015 PARCC Quick Links

Here are links for commonly requested information: 

• Accommodation Matrix 
• Calculator Policy (PARCC)
• CMAS Data Supplement 2016
• Locking and Unlocking Test Units
• Math reference sheets: Grades 5 - 8, High School  (Avocet)
  • Spanish math reference sheets: Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, High School  (Avocet)
• PARCC.Pearson.com
• PearsonAccess^next Published Reports Guidance (Avocet) 
• 2016 CMAS and CoAlt Post Test Compliance Form (includes PARCC)
• Test Administration Manuals (TAM) Computer-based Assessment: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, High School ELA, High School Math
• Test Administration Manuals (TAM) Paper-based Assessment: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, High School ELA, High School Math
• Test Coordinator Manual (TCM)
• Testing Multiple Grades in a Testing Environment
• TestNav Expected Behaviors (Avocet)
• Spring 2016 Test Coordinator Manual (TCM) 
• Transfer Student Guidance for Colorado
  • 2016 CO PBT Transfer Guidance Document
• 2015 Translated individual student reports (ISR) shells are available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Marshallese, Navajo, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. 
• Verification of District Training Form
• Void and Not Tested Codes and Reasons 2016
• Text to Speech Functionality PDF      PPT