From the GaDOE website:

Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  

Georgia Milestones is a single assessment system that consists of end-of-grade measures in English language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8, end-of-grade measures in science in grades 5 and 8, end-of-grade measure in social studies in grade 8, and end-of-course measures for specified high school courses.

The end-of-course measures are administered at the completion of the course, regardless of the grade level. Middle school students who are enrolled in one or more of these courses are required to take the associated end-of-course (EOC) measure. These measures serve as the final exam for the course and contribute a percentage of the student’s final course grade per State Board Rule 160-4-2-.13 Statewide Passing Score.​

From the DOE website:

The end-of-course measures are administered at the completion of the course, regardless of the grade level. Middle school students who are enrolled in one or more of these courses are required to take the associated end-of-course (EOC) measure. These measures serve as the final exam for the course and contribute a percentage of the student’s final course grade per State Board Rule 160-4-2-.13 Statewide Passing Score.​

As of the 2023-2024 School Year, the following courses have an end-of-course exam:

American Literature and Composition

Algebra: Concepts & Connections (beginning in December's Winter Main Window)

or *Algebra I/ Coordinate Algebra (through November's Fall Mid-month Window)

Biology

U.S. History​

* Only for students completing credit repair/recovery or a similar program.

From the GaDOE website:

The Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA) 2.0 is comprised of standardized performance tasks and is intended to provide tiered participation within the assessment for students working at various levels of complexity. The GAA 2.0 is designed to measure the degree to which students with significant cognitive disabilities have mastered alternate achievement standards in the core content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  

• The GAA 2.0 is administered to all eligible students in the following areas: 

• ​Grades 3-8, and high school will be assessed in English language arts and mathematics. 

• Grades 5, 8, and high school will be assessed in science. 

• Grades 8 and high school will be assessed in social studies. 

Purpose 

This assessment provides meaningful information about classroom instruction and helps identify students’ areas of strength and improvement. ​​​​​​​​​​​​ If a student’s IEP team determines that a student cannot meaningfully access the Georgia Milestones Assessment System, even with maximum appropriate accommodations, then the student must participate in the GAA 2.0. 

Eligibility 

The decision to assess using the GAA 2.0 is made by the IEP team after considering, responding, and providing rationale to the following eligibility questions: 

1. Does the student require intensive, individualized instruction in a variety of instructional settings? 

2. Does the student have a significant cognitive disability? 

3. Does the student require specialized supports to access and participate in the grade-level Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) that require modifications based on the student’s Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)? 

4. Does the student require specialized supports to demonstrate age-appropriate adaptive behavior? 

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From the GaDOE websit:

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 require 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. ACCESS for ELLs serves five main purposes. These include: 

• determining the English language proficiency level of students; 

• providing districts with information that will help them evaluate the effectiveness of their ESOL programs; 

• providing information that enhances instruction and learning in programs for English language learners; 

• assessing annual English language proficiency gains using a standards-based assessment instrument; 

• providing data for meeting federal and state requirements with respect to student assessment.

From the DOE website:

GKIDS 2.0 provides teachers with one source of real-time information to adjust instruction, by identifying what a student already knows, what the student needs next, and by allowing the teacher to monitor growth. 

Readiness Inventories were done during the first six weeks of school.  

Your school will share information about your child's individual readiness and fun ways to practice essential skills at home.  

GKIDS 2.0 Family Website