Most parents are aware their children are taking the Georgia Milestones tests this month. And some — especially in Fulton County — are aware it's been rough going due to computer issues that have frozen students out of the tests and forced them to start over the next day.
But here’s what most parents don’t know — who grades these high-stakes standardized tests, which determine 20 percent of high school grades and influence promotion decisions in the earlier grades?
Most parents assume grading is done by teachers.
Not necessarily, as proven by the decision of a Fulton mom to apply for a job grading standardized tests by the company contracted by Georgia to produce Milestones. She was curious when she spotted an ad for test graders.
While she has a degree, it’s in fashion merchandising. The parent was called for an interview, and she was not reassured by what she saw firsthand, including a four-question math test that graders must pass. “It’s been awhile since I have done equations so I was unsure. I got my phone out and Googled the answer. No one said anything to me,” said the mother.
She shared her experiences with the state Department of Education, which pledged to follow up with the company.
Read why a DOE official intends to escalate the parent's discoveries to the president of the testing company. Go to the AJC Get Schooled blog.
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