How to Prepare Your Child for the CSAP!

With testing dates for the CSAP quickly approaching, I figured it would be helpful to get some information out there on what you can do as a parent to prepare your child(ren).


The CSAP stands for Colorado Student Assessment Program. It is a test designed to measure student achievement in relationship to the Colorado Model Content Standards. These standards are expectations specifying what students should know at particular points in their education. As a result, CSAP provides a series of snapshots of student achievement in reading, writing, math, and science as they move through grades 3–10.

Information Strategies

Make sure that you understand why schools give the CSAP and how the information will be used. This pamphlet answers some questions that you may have about the CSAP.

~Find out when the school gives the CSAP so that you can ensure that your child is present for the test.

~Ask whether the school gives students practice in taking the CSAP. If so, be sure that your child participates in these practice sessions.

~Ask your child’s teacher for information about activities that you can do at home to help your child learn academic content.

Homework Aids

~When your child has homework, make sure that it gets done.

~Plan a time and a space for your child to study.

~Have your child sit at a table or desk with good light when he/she studies, not in front of the television.

~If your child never or rarely brings work home, find out why. Arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher to discuss the homework policy.

~Help your child understand that spacing studying over days or weeks is better preparation than trying to “cram” the night before.

Physical Preparation

~Make sure that your child gets a good rest the nights before the test. Children who are tired are less able to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of the test.

~Feed your child a nourishing breakfast on the mornings of the test. Hunger can detract from good test performance.

~Plan ahead to ensure that your child is present and on time for the test. Do not plan any medical or dental appointments on testing days.

Ask Your Child To:

~Read the directions carefully when the teacher gives out the test.

~Read the questions carefully and all of the answer choices.

Remind Your Child:

~If you don’t know an answer to a question, skip it and go on to the next question.

~If there is time at the end of the test, return to the unanswered question.

~It is helpful to eliminate some of the answer choices that you think are wrong.

~It is better to tackle each question one-at-a-time, rather than thinking about the whole test at once.

~If you finish early, check your answers.

The best preparation for the CSAP is to ensure that your child masters the Colorado Model Content Standards on which the test is based.

You can help by:

~Monitoring your child’s performance during the year. Ask questions if you don’t understand the reasons why your child received a certain grade.

~Obtaining information about the Colorado Model Content Standards. Your child’s teacher or guidance counselor can provide you with this information.

~Telling your child that you believe that he/she can do well and succeed in school. Stress that students get good grades by hard work and not just because “some students are smart.” Offer praise and encouragement for achievement and improvement.

~Using television wisely. Limit viewing to 2 hours or less on a school night.

~Establishing a daily routine for meals, homework, chores, bedtime, and family talk.

For more information on the CSAP and preparing your child(ren), please visit the link below with helpful information complied by the Colorado Department of Education.

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Colorado_Student/