Carroll County Schools shall establish, maintain, and implement a system-wide testing program for the purpose of determining scholastic aptitude and the levels of achievement of pupils attending schools. The tests shall be administered according to established testing procedures. Test results will be analyzed and used with other data in program planning.
The Carroll County School System conducts a rigorous and comprehensive testing program, including a variety of class and school level assessments, end-of-unit assessments, system-wide benchmarks, and all assessments required by the Georgia Student Assessment Program.
The goals of the testing program are to measure student achievement relative to the state-mandated content standards, to identify students failing to achieve mastery of content, to provide teachers with diagnostic information, and to assist schools in identifying strengths and weaknesses in order to establish priorities in planning educational programs.
All state-mandated tests are administered by certified educators who have been thoroughly trained in secure and standardized procedures, and under the direct supervision of the school testing coordinator. The system testing director provides training, distributes materials, maintains security, and provides oversight in strict adherence to state expectations.
Carroll County Schools shall test students at grade levels mandated by the State Department of Education at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in grades 4, 8, and 12.
In the past, the primary state assessments were the CRCT, CRCT-M, GAA, EOCT, GHSGT, and writing assessments in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. Georgia is implementing a new assessment program beginning in the 2014-2015 school year which will replace many of these primary assessments.
The Georgia Milestones will be administered in grades 3 – 8 and in selected high school courses. Milestones will consist of both end of grade (EOG) and end of course (EOC) measures. These assessments will reflect a new design paradigm that requires students to actively engage in the assessment through constructed responses, short answers, extended problem solving, and extended writing. They will also reflect the increased rigor embedded in the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.
In addition to these changes, the state assessment department is committed to conducting the new assessment program using technology (computers). Their goal is to transition to online testing over a three year period. Work has already begun to address the technology upgrades that will be needed in Carroll County Schools.
The Carroll County School System takes test security very seriously. Strict guidelines are followed by school administrators, teachers, and staff to ensure all state assessments are administered in accordance with state requirements. Any and all irregularities in the testing process are reported to the state and investigated by system personnel.
Students are expected to comply with all instructions during the test administration. Students are not permitted to use, or bring into the testing environment, any electronic device that could allow them to access, retain, or transmit information (cell phone, Smartphone, PDA, camera, recording devices, etc.). Schools have a process to collect and secure these devices so they are not available to students during testing. In addition, the use of note cards or instructional materials during testing is forbidden. Students found in possession of these materials or caught in any act of cheating may face disciplinary actions and/or invalidation of their test.
All parents, emancipated minors, and students over the age of 18 have full access to all records or data relating to the student. Student records will be released to a third party only with prior written consent of a parent, emancipated minor, or the student over the age of 18, with exceptions made for other school officials and governmental education agencies.
System level test results and other similar information are public records since they are compiled and maintained by public officials and are paid for with tax dollars. The state open-records law provides that any citizen has the right to inspect all state, county, and municipal records. However, this right of inspection does not apply to records that are specifically required by the federal government to be kept confidential or to medical records and similar files, the disclosure of which would be an invasion of personal privacy. Individual aptitude and achievement tests results are generally thought of as confidential, and releasing them would constitute an invasion of personal privacy.
For additional information on state assessments, visit the following links:
Carroll County Schools Testing Plan
Georgia Online Assessment System
Georgia Milestone Assessment Guides
Georgia Milestones Assessment System - Video
GKIDS - Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills
GAA - Georgia Alternative Assessment
Georgia Department of Education Testing Website
Helping Parents Understand the Georgia Milestone Student Report - Video
