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FIRST GEORGIA MILESTONE ASSESSMENT TEST ADMINISTRATION

 

  1. When a student does not achieve grade level reading in grade 3 or when a student does not achieve grade level reading and mathematics in grades 5 or 8 on the Georgia Milestone Assessment(s) specified in section B above, then the following shall occur:
    1. Within ten calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, of receipt of the Georgia Milestone Assessment individual student scores, the school principal or designee shall notify in writing by first-class mail the parent/guardian of the student regarding the following:
      • The student’s failure to achieve grade level performance on the Georgia Milestone Assessments;\
      • The specific retest(s) to be given to the student and testing date(s);
      • The opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction based on the student’s performance on the Georgia Milestone Assessments; and
      • The possibility that the student might be retained at the same grade level for the next school year if they do not achieve grade level on the Georgia Milestone Assessments.
    2. The student shall be given an opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction in the applicable subject(s) prior to the retesting opportunity; and
    3. The student shall be retested with appropriate section(s) of the Georgia Milestone Assessment(s) or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and this board.
    4. A student who is absent or otherwise unable to take the Georgia Milestone Assessment in reading and/or mathematics on the first administration, which includes its designated make-up day(s), shall take the Georgia Milestone Assessment in reading and/or mathematics on the second administration day(s) or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and this board.  Placement or promotion of these students shall follow the same procedures as students who do not achieve grade level on the first administration of the assessment.

 

SECOND GEORGIA MILESTONE ASSESSMENT TEST ADMINISTRATION

 When a student does not achieve grade level on the Georgia Milestone Assessment in grades 3, 5, and 8, and also does not achieve grade level on a second opportunity to take the assessment, then the following shall occur:

  1. The school principal or designee shall retain the student for the next school year except as otherwise provided for in this policy.
  2. The school principal or designee shall notify in writing by first-class mail the parent or guardian of the student and the teacher(s) regarding the retention of the student.
    1. The notice shall describe the option of the parent/guardian or teacher to appeal the retention of the student;
    2. The notice shall describe the composition and functions of the placement committee; it shall describe the option of the parent/guardian, teacher (s), or principal to invite individuals who can provide information or facilitate understanding of the issues to be discussed to attend the placement committee meeting; 
    3. The notice shall include the requirement that the decision to promote the student must be the unanimous decision of the placement committee comprised of the parent/guardian, teacher(s), and principal or designee.
  3. A student’s failure to take the Georgia Milestone Assessment in grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading and/or mathematics on any of the designated second administration testing date(s) or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and this board shall result in the student being retained.  The option of the parent or guardian or teacher(s) to appeal the retention of the student shall follow the procedure set forth in this policy.

 

APPEALS PROCESS

  1. If the parent/guardian or teacher(s) appeals the retention of the student, then the school principal or designee shall establish a placement committee to consider the appeal.
  2. The placement committee shall be comprised of the principal or designee, the student’s parent or guardian, and the teacher(s) of the subject(s) of the Georgia Milestone Assessment or the alternative assessment instrument on which the student failed to achieve grade level.
  3. The principal or designee shall notify in writing by first-class mail the parent/guardian and teacher(s) of the time and place for convening the placement committee.
  4. The placement committee shall review the overall academic achievement of the student in light of the performance on the Georgia Milestone Assessment or the alternative assessment instrument and promotion standards and criteria established in this policy and make a determination to promote or to retain.  Achievement data should include Measures of Academic Progress assessments (MAP) and could include other available data such as grades, informal reading inventories, other skills assessments, and standards checklists.  
  5. The decision to promote must be the unanimous decision of the placement committee and must determine that if promoted and given accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction during the next year, the student is likely to achieve grade level on the Georgia Milestone Assessment by the conclusion of the school year.
  6. The placement committee shall prescribe such additional assessments as may be appropriate in addition to assessments administered to other students at the grade level during the year.
  7. The placement committee shall provide for a plan of continuous assessment during the subsequent school year in order to monitor the progress of the student (progress monitoring.)
  8. The decision of the Placement Committee regarding the appeal of the parent/guardian of promotion or retention of the student shall be final.
  9. A plan for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction must be developed for each student who does not achieve grade level in grades 3, 5, or 8 on the Georgia Milestone Assessment(s) specified in section (a) above whether the student is retained, placed, or promoted for the subsequent year.  The grade level Response to Intervention (RTI) Team should be convened within the first 5 weeks of the following school year to develop and begin implementation of this plan.
  10. For students receiving special education or related services, the Individualized Education Plan Committee shall serve as the placement committee.



 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS SCORES IN ACCOUNTABILITY

EL students enrolling for the first time in a U. S. school must participate in all SBOE-designated assessments and must be coded as a first time in U. S. school enrollee in state-required data collections.  All scores resulting from the administration of state assessments will be removed from any statewide accountability calculations for the first year of a newly-arrived EL student’s enrollment in a U. S. school. Though not used for statewide accountability purposes in the first year, such scores will serve as the baseline for student growth calculations and be included beginning in year two of such students’ enrollment.  Both achievement and growth will be included in statewide accountability calculations beginning in the third year of enrollment.