April showers bring May flowers; together with sun kissed flower petals students in Rockdale County and all across the great state of GA will take the newly reformed Georgia Milestones Assessment this April. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is a comprehensive summative assessment program spanning grades 3 through high school. According to the Georgia Department of Education website, students in grades 3 thru 8 will take an end-of-grade assessment in each content area, while high school students will take an end-of-course assessment for each of the eight courses designated by the State Board of Education. Parents and guardians play a big part in the success of their children. Students often work to the expectation that they feel has been set for them. Students cannot get a grade for not working to their potential.
What kind of score could a student earn to reflect not finishing assignments or leaving blanks throughout an assessment? Students must be pushed to see past the work that they will put in during Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Many students do not know that school is their first interaction with work. Many visit school to socialize with friends, eat hot meals, or to escape virtual or realistic abuse at home. The newly crafted test contains multiple choice and writing assessments throughout each content area and will be the thermometer through which educators will be measured against Common Core state standards. Select students will take their assessment using the computer. Each school will designate the specific grade(s) that will use technology. Students not using the computer will use a traditional paper test, this year. Technology is at the heart of the Milestone as schools will administer the exam completely on-line for select grades, this year. Future administrations will be 100% on-line for students.
The connections between elementary, middle and high school are foundations to college and career. Visit the GA Department of Education website for information, study guides, and resources.
Visit Rockdale County website for additional tools and tips to help your child succeed this April when they take the End of Grade Assessment 3rd – 8th graders or the End of Course Tests 9th – 12th. www.rockdale.k12.ga.us
Warm Regards,
Maria Brown
Bio
Maria Brown’s professional history is one of Exceeding Expectations through Excellence. She is an accomplished senior manager with a solid track record in operational leadership, project management, and strategic planning for school improvement and academic growth. Ms. Brown has a keen ability to navigate through broad executive direction to structure financially justified programs and to build organizations and teams that deliver. She is certified to teach grades K-12 and has served as a facilitator of learning for both students and adults for almost twenty years. Her belief that using data-driven decision making will supplement internal resources including; parents, community members and, professional development, needs assessment, data analysis, and collaborative planning drives her commitment to bring out the best in everyone around her.
