Georgia: College and Career Policies

As part of the Race to the Top Initiative (RT3), Georgia, in collaboration with RT3 Districts, educational partners, and the Evaluation Task Force Committee, developed a new effectiveness system for teacher evaluation and professional growth. In Spring 2012, Race to the Top Districts participated in a pilot of the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System. These 26 districts provided critical feedback and data that was used to revise and improve a new system designed for building teacher effectiveness throughout Georgia. The new Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) consists of multiple components, including the Teacher Assessment on Performance Standards (TAPS), Surveys of Instructional Practice, and measures of Student Growth and Academic Achievement.

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission, appointed by the Governor, oversees the Georgia teacher certification process and dictates the requirements needed in order to become certified within the state.

Georgia offers two types of renewable professional certificates: standard and performance-based. Each have different requirements.

The Professional Standards Commission approves teacher preparation programs.

Programs must meet the following requirements for approval: admission requirements, recommendation for the pre-service certificate, program content and curriculum requirements, requirements for partnerships, and field and clinical experiences, testing requirements, and program completion requirements.

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a state-funded instructional program for eligible English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12 (Georgia School Law Code 1981, § 20-2-156, enacted in 1985).

The Georgia Standards of Excellence describe a vertically aligned, benchmarked set of performance standards for students in English Language Arts and Literacy. The standards establish a staircase of increasing complexity in what students must be able to read and write so that all students are ready for the demands of college and/or career level communication no later than the end of high school.

Georgia requires 4 credits of English to graduate.

Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (3-8 for Science, ELA, and Math), End of Course Tests, Georgia High School Graduation Test (Science, Social Studies, Math, ELA), GAA (Alternative assessment), Writing Assessments

The Georgia Mathematics standards are designed to achieve a balance among concepts, skills, and problem solving. They provide clear expectations for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student work. The standards stress rigorous concept development and real-world applications while maintaining a strong emphasis on computational and procedural skills.

Georgia requires 4 credits of math for graduation.

Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (3-8 for Science, ELA, and Math), End of Course Tests, Georgia High School Graduation Test (Science, Social Studies, Math, ELA), GAA (Alternative assessment), Writing Assessments

Georgia adopted physical education standards in 2009 for implementation during the 2010-2011 school year.

Georgia has not adopted any professional development standards.