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Colorado’s standardized social studies test could potentially be a casualty of budget cuts.
Colorado administers the Colorado Measures of Academic Success social studies standardized test to fourth and seventh graders at a select number of schools.
State lawmakers on the powerful Joint Budget Committee have two proposals before them that would create legislation to either cut the social studies test entirely or eliminate testing for elementary school students so the test is given only to seventh graders next year.
By contrast, all students in grades 3 through 11 take standardized math and literacy tests. Science tests are given to all students in grades 5, 8, and 11.
JBC Vice Chair Sen. Jeff Bridges, a Greenwood Village Democrat, asked last week for the vote on the two pieces of draft legislation to be delayed but didn’t give an explanation as to why. Legislative staff said the vote could happen as early as this week.
Lawmakers face a more than $1 billion budget shortfall in the 2026-27 fiscal year, and the JBC plays a heavy role in recommendations that balance the budget.
In a statement, spokesperson Eric Maruyama said Gov. Jared Polis supports changes to the state’s current social studies assessment that makes the data more usable and cuts costs. However, the governor doesn’t support eliminating the test.
“The future of our democracy depends on ensuring the next generation understands history, civics, and basic economics,” Maruyama said.
The idea to cut the test has the support of the Colorado State Board of Education, which voted unanimously in August to eliminate the social studies assessment as part of budget reductions, according to a Colorado Department of Education spokesperson.
Cutting the social studies test entirely would save the state $836,000, according to the draft legislation. Requiring only seventh graders to take the test would save about $300,000. The pair of draft bills that would reduce the state education department’s budget by those dollar amounts were written in early March by legislative staff for the JBC to consider.
This type of legislation typically must receive a unanimous vote by the JBC to accompany the budget bill, known as the Long Bill. The entire legislature will then consider the legislation as part of the budget packet.
This isn’t the first time lawmakers have either pared back the social studies test or considered cutting CMAS social studies testing entirely.
The test is required by state but not federal law and has been administered since spring 2014, according to the CDE spokesperson.
Originally, the test was also given to high school students, but lawmakers officially ended a requirement for older students to take it in 2020.
And a group of Democratic lawmakers filed legislation in 2023 to get rid of the social studies test requirements. At the time, a legislative analysis showed the idea would save the state about $1 million annually.
The bill passed the Senate and House, but failed to get finalized before the end of the 2023 session, the state’s General Assembly website shows.
Colorado lawmakers have also filed legislation this year to explore how to reduce testing time for elementary and middle school students taking the CMAS. The bill would create a review committee to provide recommendations, and sponsors said the cuts would also save the state money.
That bill cleared its first hearing in the Senate Education Committee, but must pass the Senate Appropriations Committee and the full chamber before it’s sent to the House for consideration.
Correction: March 25, 2026: The original story incorrectly stated the name of the Colorado Measures of Academic Success.
This story has been updated to include a statement from the governor’s office.
Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.
