Testing and Assessment

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment program for grades 3 through high school. It 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.

Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information about their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning. Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system.

Who takes it?

• Grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 take End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments in the content areas of language arts and mathematics.
• Grades 5 and 8 take End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
• High School students take an End-of-Course (EOC) assessment for each of the ten courses designated by the State Board of Education.

When/how frequently is it taken?

• Students in grades 3-8 are assessed with EOG annually in the spring, typically in April. 
• Middle and High school students enrolled in a course with a corresponding EOC will take the End-Of-Course (EOC) assessment. The EOC assessments are administered at the completion of the course, regardless of the grade level.

The GKIDS Readiness Check is a component of the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS). It is designed to be administered during the first six weeks of the kindergarten year. The GKIDS Readiness Check is aligned to the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS​) and correlated to the state mandates content standards for kindergarten. The goal of the assessment is to provide information about the skills of students entering kindergarten. 

The primary purpose of the GKIDS Readiness Check is to highlight knowledge and skills critical for student success in learning – solely to guide instruction.

The GKIDS Readiness Check is designed to be developmentally appropriate, reflecting research-based best practices for young learners, and will provide information that allows kindergarten teachers to individualize student instruction.

Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS)

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.

Who takes it?

Kindergarten students. 

When/how frequently is it taken?

GKIDS is a year-long, performance-based assessment. Except for the end of year summary report, there are no state-mandated testing windows for GKIDS. Systems may require testing windows based on their own unique schedules, reporting information at any time as required by the local district.

How is it administered?

GKIDS operates under a flexible model of assessment. By this we mean that GKIDS does not have specified assessment activities. The teacher (or local system) decides which assessment activities to use and how frequently to assess. Teachers may use assessment activities that cover multiple elements at one time and/or assess multiple children at a single setting. Teachers may assess by observing student performance during the course of regular classroom instruction or by an assessment activity of the teacher’s choice. Because teachers have the freedom to assess according to the individual needs of each student, standard accommodations are allowed if the accommodations are a part of the student’s IEP, IAP, or ELL/TPC plan.

The GAA 2.0 is designed to ensure that students with significant cognitive disabilities are provided access to the state academic content standards and given the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the knowledge, concepts, and skills inherent in the standards.​ This assessment will provide meaningful information about classroom instruction and help identify students’ areas of strength and improvement through standardized tests. 

Who takes it?

For students with disabilities, each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determines how the student shall participate in Georgia’s student assessment program. If a student’s IEP team determines that a student cannot meaningfully access the Georgia Milestones Assessment System, even with maximum appropriate accommodations, then the student must participate in the GAA 2.0.

• Grades K, 3-8, and 11 will be assessed in English language arts and mathematics.
• Grades 5, 8, and 11 will also be assessed in science and social studies.

ACCESS for ELLs is an English language proficiency test designed to measure English learners’ social and academic proficiency in English.  This assessment is used to determine the English language proficiency levels and progress of ELs in the domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Who takes it?

• Grades K-12 ELL students.

When/how frequently is it taken?

• ACCESS for ELLs is administered annually.

How is it administered?

• Kindergarten - paper and pencil administration
• Grades 1-5 - online administration except for writing section 
• Grades 6-12 - online administration 

Alternative ACCESS for ELLs

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is an individually administered test intended only for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities that are severe enough to prevent meaningful participation in the ACCESS for ELLs assessment. Decisions regarding a student's participation must be made by an IEP team.  

Write Score is a writing assessment that gives students the opportunity to practice real-world writing tasks and receive detailed feedback on their work. Students respond to prompts that are carefully matched to their grade level, and trained scorers evaluate the writing using state standards. Results highlight strengths and areas for growth in skills such as grammar, organization, clarity, and idea development, helping teachers tailor instruction to student needs.

• Early Grades (1–2): Write Score is often given in a paper-and-pencil format, with prompts and tasks tailored to younger learners who are still developing basic writing and keyboarding skills.

• Elementary School (Grades 3–5): Students complete age-appropriate writing prompts designed to build foundational skills in organizing ideas, supporting arguments, and using correct grammar and mechanics.

• Middle School (Grades 6–8): Prompts increase in complexity, requiring students to analyze texts, write with evidence, and develop more sophisticated arguments or narratives.

• High School (Grades 9–12): Students are challenged with higher-level tasks that reflect college- and career-readiness expectations, such as argumentative and informative essays using multiple sources.

This progression ensures that the test grows with students, providing meaningful feedback at every stage of their academic journey.

The Amira Dyslexia Screener is a quick, computer-based assessment that helps identify students who may be at risk for dyslexia or other reading difficulties. During the test, students wear headphones and read aloud into the computer while Amira listens and responds using advanced speech recognition. The program guides students through engaging tasks that measure key early literacy skills such as letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and decoding. Results give teachers and families valuable insight into how a child is developing as a reader and help guide early support so students can build a strong foundation for lifelong reading success.

Who takes this assessment?

All students in grades K - 3.

When is this assessment administered?

Three times each year - Fall (Beginning of Year), Winter (Middle of Year), and Spring (End of Year).

How is it administered?

• Amira is an online assessment.