Milestones tests won’t be state factor for promotion this year

The Georgia Board of Education has voted for the Georgia Milestones assessments to be removed from promotion requirements for the 2015-16 school year. The decision was confirmed in a news release from the department.

“I am committed to a responsible approach to accountability that ensures public trust in the process,” state School Superintendent Richard Woods said in the release. “While many districts tested online without a major incident, in the interests of our students, we asked the State Board of Education for a waiver of the promotion, placement and retention portion of the rule.” The release also noted that further analysis of the results would be required before they would be released to students.

Education department officials had requested the move after technology issues affected students in various locations across the state. Because significant problems were not seen in Bibb County, Superintendent Curtis Jones said earlier this week the tests would still be considered a factor for student promotion in the district.

Scoring as proficient in reading for third-graders and reading and math for students in the fifth and eighth grades originally was planned to be a requirement for promotion starting this year. That is expected to still be the case for the 2016-17 school year and beyond.

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Milestones tests won’t be state factor for promotion this year."