Georgia Milestones Assessment System

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment pro​gram spanning grades 3 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. Students in grades 3 through 8 will take an end-of-grade assessment in each content area, while high school students will take an end-of-course assessment for each of the eight courses designated by the State Board of Education.

Features of the Georgia Milestones Assesment include:

• Open-ended (constructed-response) items in language arts and mathematics (all grades and courses);
• 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
• Transition to online administration over time, with online administration considered the primary mode of administration and paper/pencil as backup until the transition is complete.

What content areas and grade levels are tested?

Students in grades 3 through 8 will take an end-of-grade assessment in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies. These tests are administered towards the end of the school year, typically in April or early May. Each school district selects a local testing window from within the state designated timeframe to administer the end-of-grade measures. Students at the high school level will take an end-of-course assessment in the following ten courses:

• Language Arts
  • Ninth Grade Literature & Composition
  • American Literature & Composition
  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  • Coordinate Algebra
  • Analytic Geometry
  • Biology
  • Physical Science
  • United States History
  • Economics/Business Free Enterprise

  The end-of-course measures are administered at the completion of the course, regardless of the grade level. These measures serve as the final exam for the course, and contribute 20% to the student’s final course grade. Each school district selects a local testing window, based on their local school calendar, from within the state- designated testing window. Middle school students who are enrolled in one or more of these courses are required to take the associated end-of-course (EOC) measure. If enrolled in a mathematics and/or science EOC course, these middle school students will not take the corresponding content area end-of-grade (EOG) measure.

  Achievement Level Descriptors

  With the implementation of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System, Georgia educators have developed four achievement levels to describe student master and command of the knowledge and skills outlined in Georgia's content standards. The four achievement levels are described below:

  Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.

  Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The students need additional academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.

  Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.

  Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia's content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.