Bulloch County Schools has successfully added 10 additional days of instruction prior to state testing for its students in third through eighth grades after the state approved its request to push back scheduled dates to administer the Georgia Milestones tests.
This year the school district was forced to close for 14.5 days due to four hazardous weather events. Recognizing that simply adding make-up days to the calendar would not effectively recover learning, the school district first adjusted instruction to focus on the most essential learning students need. Now, this is being paired with adjusting the state testing schedule. This approach prioritizes quality over quantity, focusing on meaningful academic recovery rather than simply extending the calendar without impact.
“These changes are the result of valuable feedback from our principals and district leadership,” said Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson. “It will help our teachers and students feel more confident about the learning taking place and this year’s Georgia Milestones testing.”
Elementary and middle school teachers will have more time to prepare their students for the state’s required end-of-grade tests. For third through eighth grades, Bulloch County Schools’ Georgia Milestones testing window will now be May 5-16. Your school will notify you of its exact test days. For any students who need to retake a test, the retesting window will be June 3-5. With grades 9-12 having semester-long classes, and the loss of only three days this semester, it was decided that their End-of-Course test schedules would remain the same.
Before making the decision to change the testing calendar, the school district also reviewed data. Previously, testing took place in April and retesting in May, prior to the end of the school year. Data showed that students had little success improving their scores on retests due to the short time available for reteaching needed lessons. By moving the main administration of the test to later in May, students will now gain instruction and have a better chance to perform their best on the first try.
“We appreciate the support of our principals, teachers, and families as we make this adjustment,” Wilson said. “This change puts students first by making sure they have as much learning time as possible before testing.”
Families are encouraged to mark their calendars for Georgia Milestones testing. They can further help teachers and their child’s academic success throughout the school year by making good, on-time attendance a priority. Other tips include making sure children have proper sleep and nutrition, encouraging strong study habits, and encouraging students to read a book of their choice for at least 30 minutes per day. For more information about the Georgia Milestones please visit bullochschools.org/GAmilestones or contact your child’s school.
