Last updated August 1, 2020

 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Schools
COVID-19 K-12 Resource Homepage > Testing
NEW! Gov. Kemp, Super. Woods: Georgia submits standardized testing waiver to USED for 2020-2021 school year
​Learn more > Press Release |  Joint Statement | AJC Article
Recognizing that Georgia’s educators and students are currently in the midst of an unprecedented disruption, no state tests – to include Georgia Milestones EOGs and EOCs, GKIDS, GAA 2.0, and CTAE EOPAs – will be administered for the 2019-2020 school year. Georgia applied for and received a one-year waiver from the federal government of assessment and accountability requirements.

Click here for GaDOE's testing guidance sent to districts.
will students be required to take georgia milestones?
On March 16th, Superintendent Woods suspended the ​state assessment window/administration (including Georgia Milestones EOGs and EOCs, the Georgia Alternate Assessment/GAA 2.0, and all other required testing (i.e. End of Pathway Assessments, GKIDS).

On March 20th, USED 'approved' Georgia's statewide testing waiver.

There will not be Georgia Milestones testing this school year.
will students be required to take end of grade (eog) OR END OF COURSE (EOC) TESTS?
On March 16th, Superintendent Woods suspended the ​state assessment window/administration (including Georgia Milestones EOGs and EOCs, the Georgia Alternate Assessment/GAA 2.0, and all other required testing (i.e. End of Pathway Assessments, GKIDS).

On March 20th, USED 'approved' Georgia's statewide testing waiver.

There will not be Georgia Milestones testing this school year.

At the upcoming State Board of Education meeting (March 26th), Superintendent Woods will recommend the approval of a package of waivers for all school districts, including waiving the 20% EOC course grade requirement.
WILL ADVANCE PLACEMENT (AP) EXAMS STILL BE OFFERED?
College Board is offering AP exams virtually. This year’s AP Exams will not include questions from the final units of the course – units typically covered in March and April. In addition, the streamlined Exams will take no longer than an hour and will be doable on a mobile phone.

By April 3, College Board will publish the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question types that will comprise each AP Exam.

​Keep in mind, the Exams will be “open book.” Any student already registered for an Exam can choose to cancel at no charge. 

  • ​Click here for detailed guidance from College Board.
  • Click here for AP review materials that are free for all students
WILL ACT, SAT, IB, and accurplacer EXAMS STILL BE OFFERED?

​WILL GEORGIA COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES REQUIRE ACT/SAT SCORES FOR ADMISSION? what's are the REQUIREMENTS for tcsg?
SAT Testing. In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19), College Board canceled the May 2 SAT administration. Click here for details.

ACT Testing. ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. in response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date. Click here for details.

USG Admission Requirement. SAT/ACT testing has been suspended for the remainder of the school year. USG will be waiving SAT/ACT entrance requirements for admissions. Click here for their guidance.

IB Testing: 
  • The May 2020 examinations, as scheduled between 30 April and 22 May, for Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme students will no longer be held.
  • Depending on what they registered for, the student will be awarded a Diploma or a Course Certificate which reflects their standard of work. This is based on student’s coursework and the established assessment expertise, rigor, and quality control already built into the programmes.

TCSG Admission Requirements/ACCUPLACER. Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) is suspending placement exam requirements for admission to summer and fall 2020 classes. The system is also suspending the requirement to submit a high school transcript or equivalency transcript in addition to waiving the requirement that students must submit scores on the ACCUPLACER exam.
ARE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS STILL REQUIRED TO ADMINISTER THE GEORGIA KINDERGARTEN INVENTORY OF DEVELOPING SKILLS (G-KIDS)?
On March 16th, Superintendent Woods suspended the ​state assessment window/administration (including GKIDS).

Schools are not required to administer or complete GKIDS for the 2019-2020 school year. The Georgia Department of Education has kept access to the GKIDS open so kindergarten teachers can access instructional information to meet the needs of their students.
WILL STUDENTS BE REQUIRED TO TAKE END-OF-PATHWAY ASSESSMENTS (EOPA) FOR CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND AGRICULTURAL (CTAE) CLASSES? 
On March 16th, Superintendent Woods suspended the ​state assessment window/administration (including End of Pathway Assessments).

Students can request, and local school districts have the flexibility to administer, a End of Pathway Assessment to earn an industry credential. These decisions should solely be student-based. 
WILL STUDENTS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES BE REQUIRED TO TAKE GEORGIA ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS (GAA 2.0)?
On March 16th, Superintendent Woods suspended the ​state assessment window/administration (including Georgia the Georgia Alternate Assessment/GAA 2.0).

On March 20th, USED 'approved' Georgia's statewide testing waiver.

There will not be GAA 2.0 testing this school year.
WILL END OF COURSE (EOC) EXAMS STILL COUNT FOR STUDENTS? WILL DISTRICTS BE REQUIRED TO ADMINISTER A FINAL EXAM IN PLACE OF MISSED EOCS?
At the upcoming State Board of Education meeting (March 26th), Superintendent Woods will recommend the approval of a package of waivers for all school districts, including waiving the 20% EOC course grade requirement.

The Georgia Department of Education will not require local school districts to administer a local final exam in the place of a missed EOC. However, local school districts do have the authority to add that requirement.
will students still be required to take local assessments?
Decisions to administer local assessments are solely made by local school districts. 

Superintendent Woods calls on school districts to suspend local assessments, in line with recent federal and state actions to suspend high-stakes testing.
do homeschooled students still have to take tests?
do private school (sb10) students still have to take tests?
Updates
Resources
Georgia Department of Education's COVID-19 Resources, Supports, and Guidance
​The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) is working closely with the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Department of Public Health (GaDPH), and other agencies to ensure local school districts, parents, and students have the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus). > Learn More