C-PAS: A New Method for Measuring College Readiness

The College-readiness Performance Assessment System (C-PAS) is an innovative, formative assessment designed to track the development of the Key Cognitive Strategies (KCS).

The KCS are thinking skills identified by Dr. David T. Conley, founder and CEO of EPIC. Through extensive research spanning over a decade, Dr. Conley identified five KCS necessary for success in college or a career:

KCS Model


The goal of C-PAS is to provide an assessment system that will help all students, regardless of current academic skill level, develop the thinking skills necessary for success after high school. EPIC has been field testing C-PAS with The Urban Assembly schools in New York City since Fall 2006 and has expanded with other partners over time. C-PAS is funded by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation.