Assessments

Georgia Milestones
Georgia Cyber Academy students in 3rd through 8th grade, as well as students enrolled in certain high school level courses, are required to participate in Georgia Milestones testing. This testing is in-person and conducted at various testing sites throughout the state. Students are assigned a test site based on proximity to their primary address on file.

Students in 3rd through 8th grade take End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments. Students taking certain high school level courses take End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. During the spring main administration of Georgia Milestones, EOG and EOC testing occurs within a seven day window.  

Opting out is not permitted. Students with an approved excused absence will be required to make up missed tests on an alternate day during the official testing window or retest during the summer if that is an option. Students who miss required testing may be withdrawn from the school, may not be promoted to the next grade level, and/or may not be awarded credit for a course.

NOTE: It is possible that a family may have one student assigned to a morning test session and another assigned to an afternoon session during Georgia Milestones testing, thus occupying most of that family’s day. If a family has students in both grades 3-8 and in high school, that family may be involved in Georgia Milestones testing for up to 7 days.

Learn more about Georgia Milestones testing at GCA including Health and Safety information, Testing Dates, and Frequently Asked Questions:

Georgia Milestones

Resources

• GaDOE Georgia Milestones Information
• Infinite Campus

Georgia Alternate Assessment 2.0 (GAA 2.0)

The Georgia Alternate Assessment 2.0 (GAA 2.0) exists to allow students with significant cognitive disabilities to show achievement in the knowledge, concepts, and skills included in Georgia’s content standards.​ Students who take the GAA 2.0 do not participate in Georgia Milestones testing.

Only a student’s IEP team can determine if a student is eligible for the GAA 2.0. The GAA 2.0 is an in-person test conducted by certified GCA staff. The GAA 2.0 takes place each spring.

Students in 3^rd through 8^th grade and 11^th grade will be assessed in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Students in 5^th, 8^th, and 11^th grade will be tested in Science and students in 8^th and 11^th grade will be tested in Social Studies.

The Georgia Standards of Excellence and Extended Content Standards for students with significant cognitive disabilities drive the curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessment in the LIFE (Learning Instruction with Functional Education) Program at Georgia Cyber Academy.

If you have further questions about GAA 2.0, please contact Callie Gerndt. GAA Coordinator, at cgerndt@georgiacyber.org. 

GAA Testing Dates for Academic Year 2024-25

GAA Administration Window: March 18 - April 28, 2025

Resources

GaDOE GAA Information

GKIDS 2.0 Assessment

The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) is a formative assessment that takes place over the course of a schoolyear. Kindergarten teachers collect and assess student work throughout the year in order to measure student growth in several areas.

The goal of GKIDS is to measure a student’s knowledge and skills in a number of areas of learning, to assist teachers in planning instruction, and to give families a chance to view their students’ progress over time. GKIDS results are not intended to determine whether or not a kindergartner will be promoted to 1^st grade.

One component of GKIDS is the GKIDS Readiness Check, which is conducted during the first 6 weeks of the school year. During the Readiness Check window teachers observe and assess student performance in 3 areas: Foundations of School Success, English Language Arts, and Mathematics.

For more information on GKIDS or the GKIDS Readiness Check feel free to contact your student’s kindergarten teacher.

GKIDS Testing Dates for Academic Year 2024-25

• GKIDS Administration Window: August 2024 - May 2025

Resources

• GaDOE GKIDS 2.0 Information
• GKIDS Parent Website

The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) is a mandatory summative assessment that takes place over the course of a school year. At times, it requires online student-teacher interaction through video and microphone. This is not an in-person exam. 

ACCESS for ELLs

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is administered, annually, to all English learners in Georgia. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is a standards-based, criterion referenced English language proficiency test designed to measure English learners’ social and academic proficiency in English. It assesses social and instructional English as well as the language associated with language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies within the school context across the four language domains. ACCESS for ELLs meets the federal requirements that mandates require states to evaluate EL students in grades K through 12 on their progress in learning to speak English.

ACCESS testing is conducted in-person at a physical testing site and is administered by certified GCA staff members. Students will be assigned a testing date, report time, and testing site by GCA administration.

ACCESS Testing Dates for Academic Year 2024-25

• February 4-25, 2025

Resources

• GaDOE ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Information

NWEA Map Assessment

The assessments in the MAP Suite give you a thorough picture of student learning: how much they’ve grown, what they’re ready to learn, and the specific skill gaps they need to master. The MAP Suite measures exactly what’s needed to give you valuable data with maximum efficiency: no more and no less testing than required.

New Students

For grades 1-12, all newly enrolled students will be given the NWEA MAP Assessment upon approval and enrollment.  Students will be contacted by an administrator at their Grade Band level with the specific dates and times of their assessments.  Should extenuating circumstances cause your student to miss their assigned testing window, a make-up test will be scheduled by a school administrator.

Grades K-12 take these tests and they can have up to four (4) assessments.  Once all tests are completed, student scores will be reviewed by administrative personnel.  For students in grades 9-12, high school transcripts will also be reviewed to determine schedule placement.  Finalized schedules may take up to one week to be completed after the final assessment is taken.   

Students who score below the 40th percentile will be given an additional assessment in the iReady platform to determine their eligibility for instructional support through our AIM (Academic Interventions Monitoring) program.  

Resources

• MAP Testing Dates for Academic Year 2024-2025 can be found on the Academic Calendar
• NWEA Georgia
• Family Guide to MAP Growth
• MAP Family Tool Kit
• Infinite Campus

NWEA MAP tests are taken online and at a specific time. These tests will be monitored on camera. These assessments are mandatory. 

NWEA Reading Fluency assessments (grades K-3) may require student teacher interaction and are proctored on- line through video and microphone. These tests are mandatory.

Gifted Testing

To be considered gifted, a student must demonstrate a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability, exhibit an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excel in specific academic fields. A gifted student needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.

GCA has an automatic referral process. Additionally, teachers, counselors, parents, or other stakeholders may refer students for gifted screening.

Throughout the state, varied assessments are utilized in determining whether a student should be considered gifted. At GCA, the following assessments are used:

NWEA MAP: Students are typically assessed using MAP three times over the course of each school year. MAP testing measures a student’s mastery of academic skills.

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT): This assessment is used as a tool to measure students’ verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities.

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT): This assessment is used as a tool to measure a student’s creative ability. This assessment may be administered in-person at a physical testing site or virtually by a GCA staff member.

Gifted Rating Scale (GRS) or Gifted Education Scale (GES-4): These rating scales are based on current theories of giftedness and gifted and talented characteristics.

All gifted testing is by invitation only and may be given in person and/or online.  For online testing, students will be monitored by camera and microphone.

For more information about gifted testing, visit GCA’s Advanced and Gifted page and/or contact your student’s teacher or Stacy Clendenen, Advanced and Gifted Coordinator, at sclendenen@georgiacyber.org.

Resources

• GaDOE Gifted Information
• CogAT Information
• TTCT Information

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

GCA students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses may take corresponding AP exams in the spring. Students must decide during the fall whether or not they will participate in AP testing. There is a fee associated with AP testing.

AP exams are conducted in-person. Students who live in or near the metro-Atlanta area should test at the GCA central office in Atlanta with GCA staff. Students who live far from Atlanta can arrange to take AP exams at a local high school.

For more information about AP testing, contact your AP teacher or Marchele Nelson, Assistant Director of Advanced and Gifted Programs, at mnelson@georgiacyber.org.

Students eligible to take an AP Exam in the 2024-2025 school year will be given specific instructions on how to register to do so.

AP Testing Dates for Academic Year 2024-2025

• May 5-16, 2025

Resources

• CollegeBoard AP Information
• GaDOE AP Information for Students and Parents

AP Exams are optional but must be taken in person at an assigned time. 

Georgia Cyber Academy CEEB* Code:

110-108

*CEEB stands for College Entrance Examination Board. A CEEB code is a standardized ID number that is assigned to a high school, college or university. These four- to six-digit codes are mostly used in college entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT.  CEEB codes are issued by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

iReady Diagnostics are required and will be proctored on-line through video and microphone. When assigned these diagnostics are mandatory.

Beacon assessments are proctored on-line through video and microphone. When assigned, these assessments are mandatory.

WriteScore is taken twice per year and is proctored on-line through video and microphone. When assigned, these assessments are mandatory.

Interim Assessments

Interim Assessments (IAs) will be administered during the final week of the Instructional Cycle during live class sessions. All students are required to take the Interim Assessments monitored on camera regardless of their proficiency level.

Interim Assessments will be recorded in the gradebook as both an assessment and a participation grade. They will be graded for accuracy and the student’s actual score will be entered in the Assessment category of the gradebook. Students will not be allowed to re-take an Interim Assessment.

All students have a set amount of time to complete tests/assessments/diagnostics/exams unless extended time is allowed per a student’s IEP and/or 504 Plan. Students who receive accommodations for extended time are typically expected to submit their tests/assessments/diagnostics/exams on the same due date as other students as extended time usually refers to the number of minutes allowed to complete an assessment; however, students are provided all necessary provisions as noted in their IEP and/or 504 Plan even if extended time in rare instances necessitates an amended due date.

Final Exams

Final Exams are the summative assessment for each semester. Sometimes Final Exams are referred to as Interim Assessments (IAs), especially during first semester of a year-long course/subject. If a Final Exam is referred to as an Interim Assessment, then it will be the LAST Interim Assessment administered in the semester. All students are required to take their Final Exams monitored on camera regardless of their proficiency level.

Final Exams will be recorded in the gradebook as both an assessment and a participation grade. Final exams will count toward the student’s final course average. They will be graded for accuracy and the student’s actual score will be entered in the Final Exam category of the gradebook. Students will not be allowed to re-take a Final Exam.

All students have a set amount of time to complete tests/assessments/diagnostics/exams unless extended time is allowed per a student’s IEP and/or 504 Plan. Students who receive accommodations for extended time are typically expected to submit their tests/assessments/diagnostics/exams on the same due date as other students as extended time usually refers to the number of minutes allowed to complete an assessment. However, students are provided all necessary provisions as noted in their IEP and/or 504 Plan even if extended time in rare instances refers to an amended due date.

Interim Assessments and Final Exams are proctored on- line through video and microphone. These tests are mandatory.

Pre-tests are mandatory; these critical assessments help teachers design learning experiences and inform instructional groupings. All students who enroll in a course will be required to complete the course pre-test. This pre-test will be entered in the gradebook as a completion grade only. A grade of zero (0%) will be given as a participation grade in the gradebook to all enrolled students who have not completed the pre-test within two weeks of enrollment. Students will earn a 100% participation grade for completing the pre-test within one week of enrolling in the course.

Quizzes will be administered throughout the course to assist teachers in assessing student mastery as well as to guide instruction. Students will have two (2) attempts to pass quizzes provided that they attend a small group or 1:1 session to review the material again before the 2^nd attempt. If a student performs poorly on a quiz, he or she will have one (1) additional attempt to demonstrate mastery. After the first attempt, the student may be invited to a small group or given an asynchronous assignment to complete as part of reteach/relearn before the second (2^nd) and final attempt. The student must attend re-teaching session and/or complete the asynchronous assignment before the second attempt is allowed.