 Over the past several weeks, the
Georgia Department of Education has begun a discussion about changes to the way
we assess our high school students.
We hope you'll be a part of this conversation.
As a starting point, the GaDOE's testing division has come up with a proposal
that would, over time, eliminate the Georgia High School Graduation Test
(GHSGT) and replace it with a battery of End-of-Course Tests (EOCTs).
This would require us to redesign some End-of-Course Tests and, in some cases,
create new ones. There would also be contractual and financial details that
would have to be worked out. The earliest any change could take hold is with
the freshman class of 2009-2010 (this year's seventh-graders).
One benefit to this plan is that we could reconfigure our scoring ranges so
that these tests could be used for more than graduation and No Child Left
Behind compliance. For instance, an "honors" scoring level could be used to
determine HOPE Grade Point Average calculations.
However, one major concern is that, currently, our EOCT results are not very
good and this could have an impact on our graduation rate.
For example, on the Mathematics GHSGT there were 175 districts that had a pass
rate of 75 percent or higher. However, on the Algebra I EOCT, the number drops
to 67 districts. In fact, 34 districts had a pass rate of less than 50 percent
on the Algebra I EOCT.
As I mentioned before, this new testing idea is in the early stages and I'd
encourage you to look at the details linked below and then, tell us what you
think.
In the meantime, I'd urge everyone to look at the EOCTs and the GHSGTs as ONE
unified testing system. Students who do well on the EOCTs will frequently do
much better on the GHSGTs.
Most importantly, our students will have demonstrated that they have mastered
the concepts and skills they will need to be successful in the 21st Century.
And, in the end, that's what education is all about.
I wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday season and a wonderful new year!
Sincerely,
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The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) is looking at a proposal to
redesign the secondary assessment system by phasing out the Georgia High School
Graduation Test(GHSGT) and modifying the End-of-Course Test (EOCT) program. The
result will be a single coherent assessment system that will provide measures
of student achievement directly following instruction. This assessment system
will also serve as the basis for determining diploma eligibility and will
satisfy the accountability requirements under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). This
plan is intended as an initial 'high-level' overview based on preliminary
discussions. A comprehensive development and transition plan is forthcoming to
address all the critical elements in the full project.
 Secondary
Redesign Expanded EOCT Model
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