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 The
purpose of the Georgia Testing Program is to measure the level of
student achievement of the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC)
standards and Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) (as released),
to identify students failing to achieve mastery of content, to
provide teachers with diagnostic information, and to assist
school systems in identifying strengths and weaknesses in order
to establish priorities in planning educational programs.The
testing program includes criterion-referenced assessments at the
elementary, middle, and high school levels; the National
Assessment of Educational Progress in grades 4, 8, and 12; and a
norm-referenced test at grades 3, 5, and 8.
These mandatory state assessments include:
- Georgia Kindergarten Assessment Program - Revised (GKAP-R)
- Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT)
- English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and Reading in
grades 1-8
- Science and Social Studies in grades 3-8
- Grades 3 and 5 Writing Assessments
- Middle Grades Writing Assessment (MGWA) in grade 8
- Norm-referenced test (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) in grades
3, 5, and 8
- Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT)
- English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies,
principally in grades 11-12
- Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT) in grades 11-12
- End-of-Course Tests (EOCT)
- Algebra I, Geometry, Grade 9 Literature and Composition,
American Literature and Composition, Economics, U.S.
History, Biology, and Physical Science, principally in
grades 9-12
- National Assessment of Educational Progress
- Reading, Math, and Science in grades 4, 8, and 12
- Field Tests in grade 12 in Economics and U.S. History
- Trial Urban District Assessment
- Georgia Alternate Assessment
Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT)
- The CRCT measures student acquisition of the skills and
knowledge described in the QCC and GPS (as they are released).
The assessments will yield information on academic achievement
at the student, class, school, system and state levels.
Norm-Referenced Tests (NRT)
- Students are administered the Iowa Test of Basic Skills
which is an NRT.
- Scores from a NRT are used to compare the performance of
Georgia's students with the performance of students in a
national sample, in the same grade who took the test at the
same point in the school year.
Writing Assessments
- Section 20-2-281 of the Quality Basic Education Act, as
amended in 1991, requires that writing assessments be
administered to students in grades three, five, eight, and
eleven.
- The statewide writing assessment serves the purpose of
improving writing and writing instruction.
- The writing assessment consists of an evaluation of the
student's response to an assigned prompt and is evaluated in
five areas: content/organization, style, sentence formation,
usage and mechanics.
End-Of-Course Tests
- The EOCT program was created to improve student
achievement through effective instruction and assessment of
the standards in the eight EOCT core high school courses. The
purpose of the EOCT is to provide diagnostic data that can be
used to enhance instructional programs.
- Any student enrolled in and/or receiving credit for an
EOCT course, regardless of grade level, will be required to
take the EOCT upon completion of that course.
- The EOCT is the final exam for an EOCT course. The
student's final grade in the course will be calculated using
the course grade as 85% and the EOCT score as 15% of the final
grade. The student must have a final course grade of 70 or
above to pass the course and to earn credit toward graduation.
Georgia High School Graduation Tests
- The 1991 Georgia General Assembly established the
requirement that all students seeking a Georgia high school
diploma must pass a new set of tests. The new Georgia High
School Graduation Tests differ from the previously required
Basic Skills Test in that they include not only the areas of
reading, writing, and mathematics, but also social studies and
science. The tests include process and application skills as
assessed in a range of academic content, and shall exceed
minimum and essential skills by extending the assessments'
range of difficulty.
- All students must pass all five tests, English/language
arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and writing as one
of the requirements for earning a high school diploma.
Students must earn a passing score in each of the required
tests. These requirements apply to all students, regardless of
the type of diploma or diploma seal they are seeking.
- Test reports describe the performance of individual
students, schools, school systems, the state as a whole, or
any combination of the above.
- Writing reports describe a student's writing development.
- NRT, CRT, and other test reports have various numerical
scores, such as scaled scores, stanines, percentile ranks,
grade equivalents, and mastery levels.
- A copy of each student's report is made available to
parents and guardians.
- Students must pass the GHSGT or BST (if eligible) as one
of the requirements for a regular high school diploma.
Additionally, third grade students must make a passing score
on the reading portion of the CRCT, fifth grade students must
make a passing score on the reading and mathematics portions
of the CRCT, and in 2005-2006, eighth grade students must make
a passing score on the reading and mathematics portion of the
CRCT in order to be promoted to the next grade.
- All students must also meet the promotion criteria
outlined in the Dougherty County School System curriculum
guides; or, if applicable, meet earned Carnegie unit
requirements.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss test results
with teachers in order to have a better understanding of their
child's strengths and weaknesses. The teacher, parents and
student can then plan together learning experiences to meet that
student's needs. |
Dougherty County School System
200 Pine Ave., Albany, GA 31701
(229) 431-1264
webmaster@docoschools.org
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Last revision:
01/11/2013
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The statements set forth in this website
are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as the
basis of a contract between the Dougherty County School System and any
individual. While every effort will be made to insure accuracy of the
material stated herein, Dougherty County School System reserves the right
to change any provision listed in this website without notice to any individual.
The Dougherty County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer
and does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, national origin, age, sex, religion, or disability. |
