GMAS Pilot ICT Test

To the Parents/Guardians of 7th Grade Students:

Due to the implementation of new English Language Arts (ELA) content standards in the 2025-2026 school year, the Georgia Department of Education is conducting a pilot test for the Georgia Milestones ELA Assessment. Piloting is an important step in the test development process, allowing for a trial run of items that in the future could appear on a Georgia Milestones assessment. As part of this pilot, schools from across Georgia have been identified to administer a set of Georgia Milestones test items. We are pleased that our 7th graders have been asked to participate in this pilot. The pilot is scheduled to be administered Wednesday, October 9th, 2024. The testing time required is approximately 90 minutes, administered on a single day.

Given this pilot will occur in the Fall, students will be assessed on the previous grade-level, using an off-grade approach. This approach ensures students are assessed on content they have had an opportunity to learn.It is important to note that students are not being evaluated and will not receive a score for the field test; however, participation in the pilot test offers an opportunity for additional experience working with Georgia Milestones test questions. The information gained from this pilot will provide the state with data to aid in the evaluation of the test items. There is no need for you, or your student, to prepare in advance of this field test.

Like the administration of Georgia Milestones in the Spring, cell phones, smart watches or any other personal electronic devices except those used for glucose monitoring are not permitted in the testing environment. Students can elect to keep their devices at home on the day of testing or turn them in to their teacher during the testing session. Please discuss these options with your student in advance. 

If you have any questions, please contact the school testing coordinator, Kristen Harrison (kristen.harrison@colquitt.k12.ga.us). We sincerely appreciate your student’s participation in this important part of the development process for Georgia Milestones.

Sincerely,
Josh Purvis, Principal