1. Georgia Milestones Assessment Parent Meeting Davis Elementary School April 15, 2015

2. Georgia Milestones Assessment Clip

3. Purpose of Georgia Milestones Took the place of CRCT for grades 3 – 8 Took the place of CRCT for grades 3 – 8 Designed to tell how well students are mastering the state adopted standards in the core content areas – Designed to tell how well students are mastering the state adopted standards in the core content areas – – Language arts – Math – Social Studies – Science

4. Purpose of Georgia Milestones Designed to provide critical information to parents and student about their own achievement and readiness for the next grade level Designed to provide critical information to parents and student about their own achievement and readiness for the next grade level Student performance on the assessments plays a large role in our school’s accountability to the state (CCRPI – College and Career Readiness Performance Index) Student performance on the assessments plays a large role in our school’s accountability to the state (CCRPI – College and Career Readiness Performance Index)

5. Georgia Milestone Assessment Dates - April 21 st (Tuesday) – ELA Milestone section 1 & 2 April 21 st (Tuesday) – ELA Milestone section 1 & 2 April 22 nd (Wednesday) – ELA Milestone section 3 April 22 nd (Wednesday) – ELA Milestone section 3 * One ELA testing section will focus on writing April 23 rd (Thursday) – Math Milestone April 23 rd (Thursday) – Math Milestone April 27 th (Monday) - Science Milestone April 27 th (Monday) - Science Milestone April 28 th (Tuesday) – Social Studies Milestone April 28 th (Tuesday) – Social Studies Milestone *Students are given from 50 minutes to 90 minutes (depending on the subject) per section to complete.

6. Paper and pencil administration with some online administration to small groups (ultimate goal is 100% online testing) Paper and pencil administration with some online administration to small groups (ultimate goal is 100% online testing) Assessments will consist of different types of questions – Assessments will consist of different types of questions – – Multiple Choice – Constructed Response (Writing – short answer) – Extended Response (Writing) – Norm Referenced Items Assessment Format:

7. ELA Assessment consists of 60 items ELA Assessment consists of 60 items Math Assessment consists of 73 items Math Assessment consists of 73 items Science Assessment consists of 75 items Science Assessment consists of 75 items Social Studies Assessment consists of 75 items Social Studies Assessment consists of 75 items Assessment Format:

8. Student achievement in each content area will be classified into 4 performance levels. Student achievement in each content area will be classified into 4 performance levels. Test results will not be returned to the school until October 2015. Test results will not be returned to the school until October 2015. Any decisions about promotion or retention will be made using alternate sources of data – report cards, class assignments, benchmark assessments, student motivation, etc… Any decisions about promotion or retention will be made using alternate sources of data – report cards, class assignments, benchmark assessments, student motivation, etc… Assessment Scoring

9. Georgia Milestones Writing assessment embedded in ELA section Writing assessment embedded in ELA section More rigorous More rigorous Several different types of questions Several different types of questions Scores not returned until fall due to human scoring Scores not returned until fall due to human scoring Transitioned to online testing format Transitioned to online testing format CRCT All multiple choice All multiple choice Students forced to take separate writing assessment Students forced to take separate writing assessment Assessments scored by a machine and results returned within a few weeks Assessments scored by a machine and results returned within a few weeks Georgia Milestones vs CRCT

10. 3 rd Grade ELA Example

11. 3 rd Grade ELA Example cont.

12. 3 rd Grade ELA Example Cont.

17. 5 th Grade Math Example

18. 5 th Grade Math Example Cont.

20. What have we done to prepare? Literacy Block Time– Literacy Block Time– – Ticket To Read – Corrective Reading – Focus on Lexile levels Test Prep Materials Test Prep Materials – Coach Books Benchmark tests on OAS (online assessment system) for student to become familiar with format and teachers use the data to determine areas for re- teach. Benchmark tests on OAS (online assessment system) for student to become familiar with format and teachers use the data to determine areas for re- teach. Academy Time tutoring and extension activities Academy Time tutoring and extension activities

21. RELAX – Your kids are already feeling the pressure! RELAX – Your kids are already feeling the pressure! Use the DOE’s resource guide provided online or hard copies are available. Use the DOE’s resource guide provided online or hard copies are available. Encourage students to have good study and test taking habits Encourage students to have good study and test taking habits – Follow directions carefully – Review work What can parents do?

22. Explain the purpose of the test – Gives students an opportunity to show what they have learned in school. Explain the purpose of the test – Gives students an opportunity to show what they have learned in school. Be sure your child gets plenty of sleep and has a healthy breakfast. Be sure your child gets plenty of sleep and has a healthy breakfast. Be sure your child is at school on time and not rushed each morning of testing. Be sure your child is at school on time and not rushed each morning of testing. *anxiety will affect performance on assessments Point out they may not know the answers to all the questions and some will be more difficult than others. Point out they may not know the answers to all the questions and some will be more difficult than others. What can parents do?

23. Georgia Milestone Study Guides

24. QUESTIONS?