Students to take computer-based SAT next year

pandemic. e state must wait 10 days before the contract becomes ofcial, according to a news release.

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado high school students will continue to take the SAT and PSAT as the state’s way of measuring school and district academic performance, but they’ll switch to the computerized version in spring 2024.

A committee of teachers and school administrators recommended the College Board’s online suite of tests to replace its paper version, according to the Colorado Department of Education. e new computerized test was piloted by the College Board in 2021, and the organization said in a news release last year that it’s “easier to give, and more relevant.”

State law requires the state education department to take competitive bids every ve years for a statewide assessment. e selection, however, was delayed a year because of the e idea was to use a test high school students would want to take anyway because it would help with their college and scholarship applications. Ninth and 10th graders take the PSAT and high school juniors take the SAT in the spring. Colorado uses the test results along with graduation rates and other factors to rate the performance of schools and districts. SAT scores also are one way students can show they meet graduation requirements for basic competency in math and language arts.

Colorado public colleges and universities no longer require a collegelevel exam like the SAT or ACT for acceptance, part of a growing “test optional” movement nationwide. However, many colleges and universities still ask for test scores as part of their application, and even students applying to test-optional schools can submit their scores to show their quali cations.

Colorado began using the PSAT and SAT to measure students’ math and English abilities in 2017, part of a compromise to reduce the overall number of tests students take in school. At the time, Colorado was the epicenter of an opt-out movement protesting a heavy testing burden, and many parents excused their students from taking standardized tests.

While Colorado high school students use the college readiness exams, K-8 students use the Colorado Measure of Academic Success, or CMAS, to test math, English, and science understanding. is story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.canyoncourier.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the print version of the paper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

“Chapter Two:” Evergreen Players will perform “Chapter Two” by Neil Simon through March 26. Friday and Saturday are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances are at 2 p.m. Shows are at Evergreen Players Black Box eatre, 27886 Meadow Drive, Unit B, Evergreen. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased online at www.evergreenplayers.org or by calling 720-515-1528.

SUNDAY e Kids Are Back art show: Shadow Mountain Gallery will again display artwork by local elementary school children. “ e Kids Are Back!” e display is in recognition of National Youth Art Month and includes artwork from six schools: Wilmot, Marshdale, King-Murphy, e Bergens and Parmalee. e show will run through March 26.

Shadow Mountain Legacy: e Conifer Historical Society is sponsoring a program called e Shadow Mountain Legacy at 2 p.m. March 26 at the Little White Schoolhouse, 26951 Barkley Road in Conifer. Tickets are $10-$12 and may be purchased at ConiferHistoricalSociety. org/tickets.

Shadow Mountain Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Evergreen between Java Groove and Beau Jo’s.

MONDAY

Coexisting with Black Bears: Wild Aware will present a webinar called Coexisting with Black Bears from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 27. Learn to bear-proof your home and property to help keep bears alive and wild. Brenda Lee, founder and president of the Colorado Bear Coalition, will share the organization’s work to build a statewide e ort to mitigate human-bear con icts. It will be followed by a panel discussion in bear awareness. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/ coexisting-with-bears-registration-563538848867.

UPCOMING

TallGrass food drive: TallGrass Spa is hosting its third annual Food is Love drive to bene t the food pantry at Mountain Resource Center in Conifer. Donations are being collected at TallGrass during business hours through March 31 at 997 Upper Bear Creek Road in Evergreen. Donors bringing food items will be entered to win a basket of spa products and can have their photos taken with the Food is Love mascot, Ava the SpAvocado.

Art of the Egg: Voting for the 15th annual Art of the Egg decorating contest sponsored by Go Paint! is through March 31. Age groups are up to 8 years old, 9-13 and 14 and older. Winners will be noti ed April

1. First place receives $25, second place $20, third place $15.

Evergreen Audubon Explore More: Registration is now open for Evergreen Audubon’s Explore More after-school programs starting the last week of March at Marshdale and Wilmot elementary schools and Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen. ese programs are for kids who love being outdoors and learning about nature and science. For more information and to register, visit www.EvergreenAudubon. org and click on Events.

Snowshoe hike: Explore the beauty of Colorado’s winter wonderland on a guided snowshoe hike in Georgetown. Kimberly Knox of Georgetown Outdoor Discovery and Evergreen Audubon’s Emma Vasicek will lead the hike on April 1. For more information and to register, visit www.evergreenaudubon. org/events/snowshoe-hike-withgeorgetown-outdoor-discoveryjanuary-2023.

Foothills Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show: Foothills Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show will be April 1-2 at Evergreen High School. e show, sponsored by Evergreen and Conifer e Arvada Center recently announced its upcoming slate of theater productions, unveiling ve shows that will be put on by the theater company during the 2023-2024 season.

Rotary, will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. ere is no entry fee, though bringing two nonperishable food items for Evergreen Christian Outreach is encouraged. Net proceeds are distributed as grants for charitable causes through the Evergreen and Conifer Rotary Foundations. For more information, visit foothillshomeshow.com.

DriveSafe scholarship: DriveSafe is o ering a scholarship for students who are graduating from high school, or attending college or trade school. To apply, students must ll out an application form and write an essay or create a video answering the question: “How has learning to drive helped you in ways you didn’t expect?” Entries must be submitted by April 2, and winners will be announced on May 1.

Fire department consolidation community meetings: e three 285 Corridor re departments — Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork — deciding whether to consolidate will host community meetings for the public. e meetings will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at North Fork Station 1, 19384 County Road 126, Bu alo Creek; 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at Elk Creek Station 1, 11993 Blackfoot Road, Conifer; 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Inter-Canyon Station 3, 8445 U.S. 285, Morrison; 3-5 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at North Fork Station 1, 19384 County Road 126, Bu alo Creek; 3-5 p.m.

Season tickets went on sale on March 13, while individual tickets will go on sale on July 1. Tickets for three-to-four shows are also available.

Last year, the Arvada Center put on six productions, but scaled back this year in an e ort to support the stage’s sta , according to Colorado Public Radio. e following ve shows will come to the Arvada Center stage over the next 18 months.