MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404)
651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org
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May
5, 2016 -- The State Board of Education today granted a waiver of promotion,
placement, and retention requirements tied to the 2016 administration of
the Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests.
During this year's administration of the Georgia
Milestones EOG tests, some local school districts reported technology-related
interruptions of online testing. While some of these events were short-term and
quickly resolved, with minimal impact on student experiences, others required
more extensive technical support. The GaDOE believes that further analysis of the
possible impacts of these interruptions is warranted prior to the release of
student scores, given the stakes involved for students.
"I am committed to a responsible approach to
accountability that ensures public trust in the process. Given the technology
issues experienced by some students during the online administration of the
Georgia Milestones EOGs, we believe it is best to proceed with caution when it
comes to basing promotion, placement and retention on the outcome of the
tests," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "While many
districts tested online without a major incident, in the interests of our
students, we asked the State Board of Education for a waiver of the promotion,
placement and retention portion of the rule."
State law requires that students in grade three earn
an At/Above Grade Level designation in reading to be promoted to fourth grade.
In grades five and eight, state law requires that students earn an At/Above
Grade Level designation in reading, as well as score in the Developing Learner
achievement level or above in mathematics to be promoted to the next grade.
These are the promotion, placement, and retention requirements being waived for
the 2016 EOG administration. Some local school systems have additional
promotion criteria, and this waiver will not preclude school districts from
applying local policies and protocols for promotion and retention decisions for
individual students.
Pending the approval of the Educator Effectiveness
Committee, student growth will be held harmless for the Teacher Keys
Effectiveness System (TKES)/Leader Keys Effectiveness System (LKES) this year,
and will not count next year with the revised evaluation system. The Teacher
Assessment on Performance Standards (TAPS) component of the TKES and the Leader
Assessment on Performance Standards (LAPS) component of the LKES will continue
to be the sole measure used to determine the performance rating of teachers of
record and leaders reported by employing school systems and charter schools to
the GaPSC for certification purposes.
Promotion
and Retention Board Item:
https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=1262&AID=710854&MID=49370