Assessment & Accountability

 

 

Testing Information and Procedures:
 

2020-2021 Testing Calendar

 

 

Georgia Milestones Assessment System

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment program spanning elementary through high school. Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

Features included in the Georgia Milestone Assessment System are:

• open-ended (constructed-response) items in language arts and math;
• a writing component (in response to passages read by students) at every grade level and course within the language arts assessment;
• norm-referenced items in all content areas and courses to complement the criterion-referenced information and to provide a national comparison; and
• online administration as the primary mode of administration and paper-pencil as back-up.

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering state-adopted content standards in the core content areas. In addition, the results from these assessments serve as a key component of the state’s accountability system – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).

Students at the high school level will take an end-of-course assessment in the following four courses:

• English Language Arts
  • American Literature and Composition
     
• Mathematics
  • Algebra I
     
• Science
  • Biology
     
• Social Studies
  • United States History
     

These end-of-course assessments are administered upon the completion of the course and serve as a student's final exam counting 20% of the final course grade in the associated course. Any student enrolled in and/or receiving credit for an EOC course, regardless of grade level, will be required to take the EOC upon completion of that course.

Demonstrating Subject Area Competency (“TESTING-OUT”) - As provided for in amendments to State Board of Education Rule 160-5-1-.15 (AWARDING UNITS OF CREDIT AND ACCEPTANCE OF TRANSFER CREDIT AND/OR GRADES) adopted by the Board in April 2013, the opportunity exists for students to “test-out” of any course for which there is an associated EOC and earn credit for the course through that process. For more information regarding “testing-out” please contact the school counselor or system testing coordinator. Student eligibility criteria can be found here, under the section entitled Awarding Units of Credit and Acceptance of Transfer Credit and/or Grades.

*For information on opting out, please click here.

ACCESS for ELLs

ACCESS for ELLs is administered annually to all English learners in Georgia. ACCESS for ELLs is a standards-based, criterion referenced English language proficiency test designed to measure English learners’ social and academic proficiency in English. It assesses social and instructional English as well as the language associated with language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies within the school context across the four language domains. ACCESS for ELLs meets the federal requirements that mandates states to evaluate EL students in grades K through 12 on their progress in learning to speak English.

ACCESS for ELLs is used to determine the English language proficiency levels and progress of ELs in the domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

For additional information, contact the System ESOL Coordinator or visit the following website: http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/ACCESS-for-ELLs.aspx.

Testing Procedures

All testing procedures follow the Georgia Student Assessment Program Student Assessment Handbook published by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). The GaDOE updates the handbook each year and local testing examiners are trained in procedures each year using the handbook and presentations/webinars/manuals provided by the GaDOE.
 

Standardized Test Dates

PSAT: See counselor for dates
SAT: See registration books in Career Center for registration deadlines and preparation information.
ACT:   See registration books in Career enter for registration deadlines and preparation information.
ASVAB:   See counselor for dates
ASSET/Compass: Dates, times, places posted in Career Center for current year.