Hall Co. schools asked to approve waiver for test scores

GAINESVILLE - Saying he believes test scores will be "brutal," Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield has recommended the the school board approve a local waiver on the scores in the first round of Georgia Milestones testing.<br /> <br /> "We're about to enter an era where students are going to perform much more poorly on standardized tests than they have in the past," said Schofield following the Monday afternoon work session.<br /> <br /> The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) will replace both the CRCT and the EOCT during the current academic year, and by all accounts, the tests will be much more difficult for students to pass. Schofield said just because the tests may be tougher, that doesn't make them better.<br /> <br /> "I, for one, am a believer that you don't make courses more rigorous by failing more students," said Schofield. "You make courses more rigorous by teaching more effectively."<br /> <br /> The EOCT - now the EOC - for high school students typically accounts for 15 to 20-percent of a student's grade in a given course. The waiver, which the State DOE has granted during the first year of Georgia Milestones, allows all public school systems to forego using those scores as part of a student's overall grade.<br /> <br /> Many school districts, including Hall County, may need to approve a local waiver, as well, which is what Schofield is asking the board to do.<br /> <br /> The Board is expected to vote on the local waiver request at its regular meeting in two weeks.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/9/279321