Adapted from Melissa Fincher, Ph. D Adapted from Melissa Fincher, Ph.D. Deputy Superintendent, Assessment & Accountability mfincher@doe.k12.ga.us

Georgia Milestones Grades 3 – 8 End of Grade (EOG) in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies Selected-response and constructed-response items in ELA and mathematics. Writing (response to text) incorporated in the ELA assessment. Norm-referenced items in every content area to provide a national comparison; and Online administration (3rd and 5th grades this year)

Blended: Criterion-Referenced and Norm-Referenced Georgia Milestones Blended: Criterion-Referenced and Norm-Referenced Georgia Milestones will provide: performance information in the form of four performance levels, depicting students’ mastery of state standards performance information in the form of national percentiles, depicting how students’ achievement compares to peers nationally Note: To provide norm-referenced information, some norm-referenced items may not align to Georgia’s content standards. Only aligned NRT items will contribute to proficiency designations.

Georgia Milestones It is important to remember that Georgia Milestones is primarily a criterion-referenced test, reflecting the content standards for each grade and course teachers should teach the Georgia state-adopted content standards and not the NRT standards Remember: All important uses of the test results – for both students and educators – will be based on the criterion-referenced scores and proficiency determinations.

What is the purpose of Georgia Milestones? The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state- adopted content standards in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information abou​t their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or endeavor (college or career).  Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system.  Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia.  As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state’s accountability syste​m – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).   11/19/2018

Georgia Milestones General Test Parameters: ELA (3 sections – 1 focusing on writing – 60 minutes min./75 max.) Criterion-Referenced – 44 based on CCGPS Breakdown by Item Type: 40 Selected Response (worth 1 point each; 10 of which are aligned NRT) 2 Constructed Response (2 points each) 1 Constructed Response (worth 4 points) 1 Extended Response (worth 7 points) Norm-Referenced Total Number of Items: 20 (10 of which contribute to CR score/10 used to compare nationally) Embedded Field Test - 6 Total number of items taken by each student: 60

Georgia Milestones Writing at Every Grade (70 minutes min./90 max.) All students will complete an extended constructed-response item within first or second section of the test (contributes to the writing score). Within section three, students will read a pair of passages and complete a series of items prior to writing their essay: 3 selected-response items (contributes to reading score) 1 constructed-response item requiring linking the two passages (contributes to the reading score) 1 writing prompt (extended writing response) in which students must cite evidence to support their conclusions, claims, etc. (contributes to the writing score)

Georgia Milestones General Test Parameters: Mathematics (2 sections – 60 minutes min./85 max.) Criterion-Referenced – 53 based on CCGPS Breakdown by Item Type: 50 Selected Response (worth 1 point each; 10 of which are aligned NRT) 2 Constructed Response (worth 2 points each) 1 Constructed Response (worth 4 points) Norm-Referenced Total Number of Items: 20 (10 of which contribute to CR score/10 to compare nationally) Embedded Field Test Total field test items: 10 Total number of items taken by each student: 73

Georgia Milestones General Test Parameters: Science (2 sections – 45 minutes min./70 max.) Criterion-Referenced – 55 based on CCGPS Breakdown by Item Type: 55 Selected Response (worth 1 point each) Norm-Referenced Total Number of Items: 20 (approximately 10 of which contribute to CR score/10 to compare nationally) Embedded Field Test Total field test items: 10 Total number of items taken by each student: 75

Georgia Milestones General Test Parameters: Social Studies (2 sections – 45 minutes min./70 max.) Criterion-Referenced – 55 based on CCGPS Breakdown by Item Type: 55 Selected Response (worth 1 point each) Norm-Referenced Total Number of Items: 20 (approximately 10 of which contribute to CR score/10 to compare nationally) Embedded Field Test Total field test items: 10 Total number of items taken by each student: 75

Georgia Milestones: Type of Test Items Content Area Selected Response Constructed Response (2 pt) Extended Constructed Response (4 pt) Extended Writing Response (7 pt) ELA X Mathematics Science Social Studies

Georgia Milestones: Testing Schedule Grade Testing Dates Mode 3 4/14 – 4/20 Online AM (8:30) 4 4/18 – 4/22 Paper/Pencil 5 PM (11:30) 11/19/2018

Georgia Milestones: Scoring Score reports will be available in 10 business days from the date of receipt for ELA and math/5 business days for Sci and SS. Scores will provide students’ criterion referenced achievement designation 4 score designations – Beginning Learners Developing Learners Proficient Learners Distinguished Learners 11/19/2018

Georgia Milestones: Promotion and Retention Reading – Grades 3 and 5 Student performance on the reading portion of the ELA test will be used to provide a grade level reading determination Below grade level OR On/Above grade level Students who receive a designation of below grade level must retake the ELA test. Students who retest will take the full ELA test (Sections 1, 2, and 3) over the course of 2 days. Math – Grade 5 Students must achieve the Developing Learner achievement level Students who achieve Beginning Learner status must retake the Math test. 11/19/2018

Georgia Milestones: Assessment Guides Hollis Hand Elementary Website Georgia Milestones Information Grade 3 – Georgia Milestones 3rd Grade Study Guide Grade 4 - Georgia Milestones 4th Grade Study Guide Grade 5 - Georgia Milestones 5th Grade Study Guide 11/19/2018

Georgia Milestones: Online Practice Site This site is to help students become familiar with features of Online testing. The test questions are generic for all grade levels. Hollis Hand Website School Links http://www.gaexperienceonline.com/ 11/19/2018

Georgia Milestones: How to Help Please arrive at school ON TIME during each of the scheduled testing dates. Students who miss ELA Day 1 will must complete this section before being allowed to complete ELA Day 2. Eat a healthy breakfast. Make sure your child is well rested. Testing is tiring! Wear comfortable clothing. A light jacket is a good idea. Encourage your child to do their best and not be anxious about the test. 11/19/2018