Georgia Milestones to Chart New Course

“Coupled with multiple choice we will have constructed response items in which students have to explain their answer,” she says. “If it’s in Language Arts, they’ll need to cite evidence that supports whatever conclusion or inference they make from reading the text.”

In math, students will have to show their work. That could end up helping their scores. Fincher says students can receive partial credit for their answers. And humans will grade the tests instead of a machine.

High school math scores have been historically problematic for Georgia. Last year, just 37% of students who took a new coordinate algebra end-of course-test passed it. But Fincher says the test was pitched at a higher level so students would adjust to increased expectations.

“I wouldn’t expect on the high school math to see drastic differences from what we see now, simply because we developed those tests knowing where we were headed,” Fincher says.

Still, scores may drop next year. The U.S. Education Department will require all states to raise their cut scores. So, students will need to get a higher percentage of questions right in order to pass.

Georgia had the lowest cut scores in the country for the CRCT. State education officials say scores in grades 3-8 may slip as a result.