By Kathryn Schiliro
Managing Editor

It's one word.
One word that strikes fear in the hearts of students nationwide.
Scantron. (Dum, DUm, DUM!)
And it means one thing– standardized testing.
Testing happens throughout the school year– and even into the summer– in one form or another, whether mid-term tests or retests, but it's the spring when it all comes blasting into lives and onto desks.
Even at present, preparation has started; it's the time of the year teachers are being trained to administer these kinds of tests.
A few tips to help your student perform well:
• Make sure the student gets a good night's sleep prior to the test and a good breakfast the day of the test.
• The student must get to school on time on test day. If late, the student may not be permitted to take the test as rules on disturbing a classroom once testing has begun are stringent.
• Try to eliminate stressors. Parents may avoid upsetting their student(s) prior to testing. Students should clear their minds as best they can so that they do well on the test.
We wish you the best of luck!

Testing in Morgan County

Feb. 27: Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT)– this is for high school juniors; they must pass it to earn a diploma– retest administration
Feb. 28: GHSWT retest make-up
March 6: Fifth Grade Writing Test
March 7: Fifth Grade Writing Test make-up
March 18-29: Third Grade Writing Assessment
March 25-29: Spring Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT)– this is for high school juniors in four content areas; like the GHSWT, they must pass it to earn a diploma– main administration
April 13: ACT– used for entrance into post-secondary institutions– at Morgan County High School
April 16-23: Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT)– students in grades 3 to 8; the CRCT-M is given to "eligible students who receive special education services," according to doe.k12.ga.us– main administration
May 2-22: International Baccalaureate (IB) exams– for those high school students in the IB program
May 13-17: End-of-Course Tests (EOCT)– for students in grades 9 to 12 in core subject areas– spring administration
May 6-17: Advanced Placement (AP) exams– for high school students in AP classes– administration window
May 21-22: CRCT and CRCT-M retest
June 25-28: EOCT retest
July 15-19: Summer GHSGT retest
July 17: GHSWT retest

Printed in the February 21, 2013 edition