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GKIDS

Description

The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) is a year-long, performance-based assessment. The goal of the assessment program is to provide teachers with information about the level of instructional support needed by individual students entering kindergarten and first grade. GKIDS will allow teachers to assess student performance during instruction, record student performance in an on-line database, and generate reports for instructional planning, progress reports, report cards, SST, and/or parent conferences. Throughout the year, teachers may assess students and record GKIDS data based on their system’s curriculum map or report card schedule. At the end of the year, summary reports and individual student reports will be generated based on the data the teacher has entered throughout the year.

Purpose

The primary purpose of GKIDS is to provide ongoing diagnostic information about kindergarten students’ developing skills in English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Personal/Social Development, and Approaches to Learning. GKIDS will also provide a summary of student performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics at the end of the kindergarten school year. GKIDS should serve as one indicator of first grade readiness. GKIDS will serve both a formative and summative role in assessing kindergarten students.

CRCT

Students in grades one through eight are assessed each spring on the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). All students are assessed in Reading, English/Language Arts and Mathematics. Students in grades three through eight are also tested in Science and Social Studies. Third grade students are required to pass the Reading test for promotion to fourth grade, fifth grade students are required to pass the Reading and Mathematics tests for promotion to sixth grade, and eighth grade students are required to pass the Reading and Mathematics tests for promotion to ninth grade.

ITBS

Students are assessed in the fall on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). This is a norm-referenced assessment that measures student achievement in comparison to other students nationwide. Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 are tested in Reading, Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Sources of Information.

Writing Assessments

Students in grades 5 and 8 are assessed annually on their writing skills. Students in grade 8 will be assessed in January, and students in grade 5 will be assessed in March. Students write on a specific topic and their compositions are then evaluated by outside raters. Score reports are received in the spring. Students in third grade are assessed throughout the year on their writing skills. Teachers use a standard rubric to evaluate student writing samples and determine the level of the student's writing in the spring.

GHSGT & GHSWT

High school students are assessed on the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT). Most students take the GHSWT during the fall of their junior year, and the GHSGT during the spring of their junior year. The GHSGT consists of tests in the areas of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Students are required to pass the GHSWT and all sections of the GHSGT to graduate. Several retest opportunities are available through the year for students who do not pass the GHSWT or one or more sections of the GHSGT.

View the GHSGT/GHSWT Waiver and Variance Procedures »

EOCT

All students will take the End-of-Course Test (EOCT) after completing courses in Algebra 1, Geometry, US History, Economics, Biology, Physical Science, 9th Grade Literature and Composition, and American Literature and Composition. Results of the EOCT are used for diagnostic, remedial and accountability purposes to gauge the quality of education in the state and also count as part of the student's final grade in the course.

ACCESS

ACCESS for ELLs is administered, annually, to all English language learners in Georgia. ACCESS for ELLs is a standards-based, criterion referenced English language proficiency test designed to measure English language 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 No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandate requiring states to evaluate ELL students in grades K through 12 on their progress in learning to speak English.

GAA

The Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA) is a key component of the Georgia Student Assessment Program. Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states must ensure that all students, including students with significant cognitive disabilities, have access to a general curriculum that encompasses challenging academic standards. States must also ensure that all students are assessed for their progress toward meeting academic standards.

PSAT

The Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) is published by The College Board as a tenth or eleventh grade practice instrument for students before taking the SAT in eleventh or twelfth grade. All tenth grade students take the PSAT in the fall.

SAT & ACT

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are offered by The College Board several times during the year. These tests are not required by the state or school system, and are not administered by Cobb schools; however, most colleges and universities use SAT and/or ACT scores in determining student admission. Most college-bound students take one or both of these tests during either their junior or senior year. Both the SAT and ACT can be taken as many times as the student wants to.