It is designed to measure what students know and are able to demonstrate about the state's academic standards. These standards were developed during a series of public hearings and approved by the state board of education.
Educators can use the results to improve instruction with the goal of improving student achievement.
Individual student results are most useful to parents when considered along with classroom tests, assignments and homework. This special section will include several days' worth of stories about the CSAP, plans for its future use and the disagreement over some of those plans. It also will include stories about the experiences of other states with similar tests, a look at schools that have succeeded with the tests and some test samples, so you can see what your children are facing. And on Tuesday, Feb. 29, Colorado political and business leaders from across the state will tackle a set of CSAP questions in Take the Test Day events. Please watch for coverage in The Denver Post, on DPO and on 9News.