Georgia Milestone Assessments begin the week of Apr 22, 2025. Here are a few resources to help parents understand what’s coming, why, and how you can support your child. 

State standardized test scores: What families should know

• Why are these tests valuable? State standardized tests help school leaders and state education officials understand where students are succeeding and where they may need more help. However, these tests can never tell the whole story about a student’s learning or the quality of a child’s education. 

• What tests will my child take? In Georgia, students take the Georgia Milestones Assessments. Students in grades 3 through 8 take End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments in English language arts and mathematics. Students in grades 5 and 8 also take the EOG assessment in science, and students in grade 8 also take the EOG assessment in social studies. High school or middle school students enrolled in courses designated by the State Board of Education take End-of-Course (EOC) assessments.

• What if your student has an IEP or 504? Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan are entitled to test with accommodations outlined in their plan.

• Read more about state standardized tests here: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/school-ratings/state-standardized-test-scores-issues-to-consider/ 

• Read more about Georgia Milestones Assessments here: https://gadoe.org/assessment-accountability/georgia-milestones/ 

Test prep

There are different types of tests that students take throughout the year. For different tests, there are different ways for students to prepare. Here’s the breakdown:

• For all tests: The best ways to help your child prepare for tests of any kind include helping them show up the day of the test well-rested, fed, and feeling good. As parents and caretakers, this means:

  • Making sure your child gets a good night of sleep. Children who are well rested are more likely to have the stamina and focus needed to complete the challenges presented to them.

  • Making sure your child eats a nourishing breakfast. Children who eat a balanced breakfast, including protein, are more likely to have a steady focus and not get distracted by hunger in the middle of a test.

  • Helping your child put things in perspective. Communicate to your child that their education is important to you and to them. Learning is about thinking and challenging themselves. All of us learn differently – and at first we don’t succeed, it’s important to understand that we all fail sometimes and the next step is to try again.

    • Praise your child not for the outcomes (test scores) but for the effort they put into learning. Read more about the best ways to praise your elementary school child and your tween or teen. 

    • Stanford Professor Carol Dweck has a few great pointers for parents on helping children learn to define “smart” a different way, the importance of children learning how to take on challenges, and why you and your child should adopt the word “yet” into your daily vocabulary.

• For Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments: There are parent resources aimed at helping parents prepare their children specifically for the end-of-year state standardized tests. Check out the Georgia Milestones Resources for Students and Parents here: https://lor2.gadoe.org/gadoe/file/65da261d-7393-457b-bd7e-b7721b2f15cf/1/GM_Parent_Resources.pdf 

• For tests in class: 

  • Taking notes: Test prep really begins in class with taking notes that will help your child understand the key concepts that the teacher is trying to convey. 

    • How to take great notes: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/take-great-notes/

    • 5 note-taking tips for middle schoolers: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/5-tips-for-middle-schoolers-taking-notes/

• Doing homework: Ideally, homework helps students review what was shared in class and expand on those skills and ideas through practice. Parents can help in specific ways.

  • The K-2 homework survival guide: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/homework-survival-guide-old/ 

  • 6 ways to establish a productive homework routine: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/6-ways-to-establish-a-productive-homework-routine/

  • 8 secrets for the best study-spot ever: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/best-homework-place/

  • Parents’ top tips for surviving homework… without tears: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/homework-without-tears/

  • 5 things to say when your child says, “I hate homework!”: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/5-quick-comebacks-for-when-your-child-says-i-hate-homework/ 

• Study skills: Some study skills are proven to work better than others. The number one way to learn something new — and remember it (aka transfer that knowledge to long-term memory) is to test yourself. Here are some other research-backed study skills to teach your child.

  • The best way to study for tests, according to science: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/the-best-way-to-study-for-tests-according-to-science/ 

  • Study skills for middle and high school students: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/study-skills-for-middle-school-and-beyond/ 

  • Forget cramming: 3 easy ways to remember what you learn: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/milestones/forget-cramming-3-easy-ways-to-remember-what-you-learn/ 

  • 10 ways to help your teen get smart about tests: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/preteens-teens-get-smart-about-tests/ 

  • Test-taking tips: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/test-taking-tips/ 

  • Testing makes our brains work better: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/science-of-learning/testing-makes-our-brains-work-better/ 

  • Study and test-taking strategies for kids with learning difficulties: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/learning-differences/study-and-test-taking-strategies-for-kids-with-learning-difficulties/ 

Test anxiety

An estimated 40% of students suffer from text anxiety. Symptoms can range from physical symptoms, like feeling nauseous, heart racing, or having a headache to emotional symptoms, like mood swings, anger, and being forgetful. Thankfully, there are proven ways to help children manage these challenging feelings. Here are a few research-based strategies to try.

• 5 ways to reduce test anxiety: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/checklist-for-test-de-stress/

• How to help your child ease test anxiety: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/how-to-help-your-child-ease-test-anxiety/

• Help! My child worries about tests: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/homework-and-tutoring/help-child-worries-tests/

• How to help your child get over nervousness about tests: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/how-to-help-your-child-get-over-nervousness-about-tests/

Summer learning resources

Students need a break over the summer — but there are many ways to make sure your child gets a break while also incorporating some age-appropriate learning and growth to keep your child on track for college and a fulfilling career down the road. Here are some stage-based ideas for parents to consider.

• For preschoolers:

  • How to roll fun and learning into summer: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-slide-activities-for-kindergarten-readiness/ 

• For elementary school kids:

  • 4 weeks of summer learning activities: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/4-weeks-of-k-5-summer-learning-activities/ 

  • 8 ways to keep your child’s reading skills sharp this summer: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-reading-activities-for-learning-disabilities/ 

  • 7 summer learning activities for the summer before 1st grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-before-1st-grade/ 

  • 6 summer learning activities for the summer before 2nd grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-before-2nd-grade/ 

  • 7 summer learning activities for the summer before 3rd grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-before-3rd-grade/

  • 8 summer learning activities for the summer before 4th grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-before-4th-grade/

  • 7 summer learning activities for the summer before 5th grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-before-5th-grade/

  • 7 summer learning activities for the summer before 6th grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/7-summer-learning-activities-before-6th-grade/ 

  • 5 tips for summer socializing: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/social-skills/summertime-social-skills-for-kids/ 

  • 10 summer learning ideas: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-learning/

  • Summer’s here! What’s a mom to do with these kids?: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summers-coming-whats-a-mom-to-do-with-these-kids/ 

  • 10 ways to build math skills this summer: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/math/build-math-skills/ 

• For middle school kids:

  • Summer planning for tweens and teens: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/youth-summer-camp-teen-tween/ 

  • 6 signs of a quality summer program: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/signs-of-quality-summer-program/ 

  • 10 ways to get kids reading this summer: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/reading/ideas-for-summer-reading/ 

• For high school kids:

  • Planning your child’s summer after 9th grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/college-and-career/planning-summer-after-9th-grade/

  • Stepping it up the summer after 10th grade: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/college-and-career/stepping-it-up-summer-after-10th-grade/

  • How to help your kids explore their passions this summer: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/will-reality-live-up-to-their-dreams/

  • An honest day’s work: summer jobs for teens: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/summer-jobs-for-youth/ 

• For kids with learning differences

  • Reinforcing your child’s IEP goals over the summer: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/iep-504/reinforcing-your-childs-iep-goals-over-the-summer/

  • Extended school year services: what you need to know: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/iep-504/extended-school-year-services-what-you-need-to-know/ 

  • Teens with learning differences can land that perfect summer job: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/summer-learning/teens-with-learning-differences-can-land-that-perfect-summer-job/