Moffat County students will begin state testing next month.

The Colorado Department of Education requires students to participate in the Colorado Measures of Academic Success and the Scholastic Assessment Test, depending on a student’s grade level. This year students will take various assessment tests throughout the month of April.

Grades third through eighth will complete English and math assessments from April 1-25. Science assessments will be completed by fifth through eighth graders from April 8-25 and 11th graders from April 1-4. Grades nine through 11 will complete the PSAT or SAT on April 16.

The assessments are designed to help officials in the Moffat County School District know where to focus their efforts, and while local educators say no single assessment presents a complete picture of student achievement and growth, they are encouraging students to take the assessments seriously.

With that, students are being encouraged to show up to testing days prepared to do their best. Some assessments are created and executed by a classroom teacher or a principal. Others are required by the state. Parents who wish to opt their children out of assessments may contact their student’s principal.