MEDIA CONTACT: Robert Gaines, rgaines@gpee.org, 678-476-4491
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July 26, 2024 – Today, the Georgia Department of Education released Georgia Milestones assessment results in English Language Arts (ELA), science, and social studies for the 2023-2024 school year. Proficiency rates on 10 of 13 assessments increased compared to last year’s administration.
“Overall, there’s much to be encouraged by,” said Dr. Dana Rickman, president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. “The upward trend, especially on the Grades 5 and 6 ELA assessments, is promising. At the same time,” she added, “as we dig deeper into the results by district and schools, we see opportunities for growth and improvement. We know that schools are still struggling with the unique challenges that emerged during the pandemic.” When looking at district level data, the percent of third graders that were proficient and above on the English Language Arts (ELS) milestone ranged from 7% to 85%.
As the Partnership has documented through its multi-year CARES Impact Study, which is examining Georgia’s school districts’ use of the federal COVID relief funds, Georgia school districts have invested these funds not only to improve core instruction, but also to design and deliver interventions that accelerate student learning and address students’ unmet mental health and wellbeing needs. While these funds have been critical for schools’ pandemic recovery efforts, they are set to expire in September 2024. “What is of great concern to us,” Dr. Rickman stated, “is what Georgia’s Milestones results may look like in the coming years, especially considering we are now at the end of that infusion of much needed resource dollars. For districts who have buoyed themselves over the last three years with federal dollars, outperforming or even sustaining this year’s results could prove challenging, especially for our most at-risk students. We recognize, however, that there are likely several districts whose ESSER investments have helped develop promising practices that will yield ongoing positive outcomes and could be replicated across the state. The Partnership is currently working on identifying and lifting-up those districts and their practices.”
About Georgia Milestones
Students take Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) tests in grades three through eight, and Georgia Milestones End of Course (EOC) tests in identified high school courses. The Georgia Milestones assessment system meets the federal requirement that states test students in math and ELA in grades 3-8 and once in high school, and in science once per grade band (3-5, 6-8, 9-12).
Georgia Milestones assesses student learning along four levels of achievement:
Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.
Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
When reporting state assessment results, the Georgia Department of Education combines the Proficient and Distinguished Learner levels to create a composite measure: the percentage of students scoring at or above proficiency.