CoAlt - Alternate Science and Social Studies Assessments

CoAlt Administration Trainings

Information on administration trainings is found on the CDE Assessment Division Trainings page.

Sample items for the CoAlt Science assessments are available. These items are representative of item types on the CoAlt Science assessments.

CoAlt Performance Levels and Cut Scores

Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs)

CoAlt Science PLDs were accepted by the Colorado State Board of Education in December 2022. The CoAlt Science performance levels are Emerging, Approaching Target, At Target, and Advanced.

• Grade 5 Science
• Grade 8 Science
• Grade 11 Science

Performance Level Cut Scores

Students taking CoAlt assessments receive an overall scale score. During the standard setting process, educators used scale scores to set cuts for each performance level based on the specific content that students should be able to engage with at each performance level.

CoAlt Frameworks

The CoAlt Assessment Frameworks are designed to assist educators, test developers, policymakers, and the public by clearly defining those elements of the Colorado Academic Standards - Extended Evidence Outcomes that are suitable for state testing. They are not designed to replace local curricula and should not be considered state curricula. They define the content that may be assessed on CoAlt: Science and Social Studies assessments.

• Science Frameworks
  • Grade 5 Framework (PDF)
  • Grade 8 Framework (PDF)
  • Grade 11 Framework (PDF)
• Social Studies Frameworks (PDF)

Technical Reports