The Georgia Milestones
Assessment System utilizes four achievement levels to describe student mastery
and command of the knowledge and skills outlined in Georgia’s content
standards. Most students have at least some knowledge of the content described
in the content standards; however, achievement levels succinctly describe how
much mastery a student has. Achievement levels give meaning and context to
scale scores by describing the knowledge and skills students must demonstrate
to achieve each level.
The four achievement
levels on Georgia Milestones are Beginning Learner, Developing Learner,
Proficient Learner, and Distinguished Learner. The
general meaning of each of the four levels is provided below:
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 in 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.
More detailed and
content-specific concepts and skills are provided for each grade, content area,
and course in the Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs). ALDs
are narrative descriptions of the knowledge and skills expected at each of the
four achievement levels and were developed for each grade level, content area,
and course by committees of Georgia educators in March 2015 and July 2015. The
ALDs are based on the state-adopted content standards.
ALDs show a progression
of knowledge and skills for
which students must demonstrate competency across the achievement levels. It is
important to understand that a student should demonstrate mastery of the knowledge
and skills within his/her achievement level as well as all content and
skills in any achievement levels that precede his/her own, if any. For
example, a Proficient Learner should also possess the knowledge and skills of a
Developing Learner and a Beginning Learner.
ALDs for Parents are available below and are intended to summarize the concepts
and skills for each grade, content area, and course to support parents’
understanding of their child’s performance. The full versionsof the ALDs are also available.
Georgia Milestones End
of Grade (EOG) Achievement Level Descriptors for Parents
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Georgia Milestones End
of Course (EOC) Achievement Level Descriptors for Parents
Ninth Grade Literature
American Literature
Coordinate Algebra
Algebra I
Analytic Geometry
Geometry
Biology
Physical Science
United States History
Economics/Business/Free Enterprise