As part of a major effort to raise student achievement, Colorado schools have been putting into place rigorous academic content standards that spell out the skills and knowledge students should acquire in core subject areas. This guide contains information about part of this effort, the new Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP), to help teachers explain scores to parents and students. The CSAP will be the first examinations administered using a common yardstick to measure student achievement across the state. It is based on the state model content standards developed by Colorado educators and community members. Benchmarks specify what students should know by the end of 4th, 8th, and 11th grades. The CSAP is a standards-based test that will measure and report what each student has actually learned. School districts will receive results for individual students, their schools, and the district as a whole. Scores will be reported as "Advanced,""Proficient,""Partially Proficient," and "Unsatisfactory." Each proposed test question is reviewed by panels of teachers and assessment experts and panels of community members and parents. Examples of test questions are included, and some questions with answers clarify details about the testing program. (SLD)