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Educator testing is undergoing a transition in Georgia. The Praxis testing program was replaced by the
Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators™ (GACE™) program as of September 1, 2006.
GACE™ assessments include Basic Skills, Paraprofessional, Professional Pedagogy, and content assessments.
All assessments are aligned with state and national content standards and the state standards for the P-12 curriculum
(GPS or QCC). The Professional Standards Commission (PSC) contracted with National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES™),
to develop the new assessments. Many Georgia educators from various school districts and institutions of higher education
assisted with test development in several ways. The PSC and NES are appreciative of the efforts of these Georgia educators.
The frequently asked questions listed below may assist you now that the Praxis program has been replaced by the GACE™ program.
Every effort possible has been made to assure the information provided below is current, and new information will be posted
in the future. Information about the GACE™ program is available at www.gace.nesinc.com.
Please also check this Web site frequently for new information.
In the GACE™ testing program there will be no broad field social studies test for high school (6-12). Instead
separate tests will be available for History, Economics, Geography, and
Political Science. An educator seeking authorization to teach multiple social science
subjects at the high school level (grades 6-12) will need to pass multiple GACE™tests.
However the GACE™program will include a middle grades social studies test to support Middle Grades
Social Studies (4-8) certification.
Note: For certification
candidates in the field of Speech and Language Pathology the Praxis
II test 0330 will remain the required test, for it is the test for
national licensing with ASHA. The GACE™test for Latin will be deferred until Fall of 2007, and the
PSC will continue to accept Praxis testing results in Latin through the end of August, 2007.
The PSC will not accept Praxis II scores for Educational Leadership assessments that reflect a score report date of after March 15, 2008. If a person has a passing score on his/her score report that is dated on or before March 15, 2008, that passing score will be accepted for the appropriate content assessment if that person completes any approved Georgia Educational Leadership program on or before September 30, 2009. The GACE assessment in Educational Leadership, which has replaced the Praxis, will begin with the GACE test administration of June 14, 2008. For GACE testing information and registration, go to http://www.gace.nesinc.com/
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FAQ List
TRANSITION:
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What is the GACEŽ?
GACEŽ is the acronym for Georgia Assessment for the Certification of EducatorsŽ.
It is the educator assessment program for Georgia and is administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc. Ž (NES).
The GACE web site is www.gace.nesinc.com.
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Where can I find information about testing requirements in Georgia?
General testing questions are answered on the PSC website (www.gapsc.com.)
Look for Educator Assessment.
- When did the GACE replace the Praxis as the certification program in Georgia?
The GACE was required for Georgia educator certification beginning testing after September 1, 2006.
The transition period has now passed, and only the GACE is accepted for those who are taking the test(s) now. The three
exception fields are Speech and Language Pathology, Educational Leadership and Latin, as described in the note preceding
these questions.
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Must I take the new GACEŽ assessments if I have already passed the TCT or Praxis in my content field?
Tests passed prior to March 6, 2007 in certification content fields in the TCT or Praxis programs are still valid and will
remain on educator records.
NOTE: The certification field of Educational Leadership is an exception to the above statement. The PSC will not accept Praxis II scores for Educational Leadership assessments that reflect a score report date of after March 15, 2008. If a person has a passing score on his/her score report that is dated on or before March 15, 2008, that passing score will be accepted for the appropriate content assessment if that person completes any approved Georgia Educational Leadership program on or before September 30, 2009. The GACE assessment in Educational Leadership, which has replaced the Praxis, will begin with the GACE test administration of June 14, 2008. For GACE testing information and registration, go to http://www.gace.nesinc.com/
- If I take (or took) Praxis on or after March 6, 2007, will the PSC allow these score to be used for certification?
Unless the field in which you took the test was Speech and Language Pathology, Latin, or Leadership, the PSC will not accept
the Praxis scores, and you must take GACE.
- In what instances could an educator take a Praxis test after March 5, 2007 and have it accepted for
certification in Georgia?
Educators who are seeking certification in Leadership, Latin, and Speech and Language Pathology will continue to use the
Praxis II tests in 2006-2007.
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The last date the Latin Praxis can be taken and accepted for Latin certification in Georgia
is August 4, 2007.
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The last date Praxis Leadership tests may be taken for certification in Georgia is March 15, 2008. Educators seeking Educational
Leadership certification in Georgia who wish to use Praxis test scores to support their certification must
submit application packets so that the packets are received at the PSC office by September 30, 2009.
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The Speech and Language Pathology Praxis (test # 20330) will continue to be
accepted in Georgia. It is also the ASHA test and the minimum score for passing is 600.
- May a candidate combine a Praxis II test score with a GACE test score to meet the assessment requirement in a field?
No, a candidate may not combine a Praxis test score with a GACE test score to meet the testing requirement in a content field.
For example, a person could not combine a passing score on one of the Praxis content assessments formerly required for
Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification with one test from the GACE Early Childhood Education assessment in order to meet
the content assessment requirement for the ECE field. Either the appropriate Praxis tests taken before March 5, 2007 or the
GACE content assessment must be passed to meet the requirement for a content field. This also applies to the Basic Skills
Assessment and the Professional Pedagogy Assessment. The Praxis and GACE are different testing programs and individual tests
cannot be used to meet the testing requirement. To meet the testing requirement all tests within a GACE assessment
(or Praxis, if taken before March 5, 2007) must be passed.
A candidate could meet the basic skills requirement using Praxis I (taken by March 5, 2007) and the content testing requirement
using the appropriate GACE assessment because these are two separate requirements for certification. Additionally, middle school
candidates may use a combination of Praxis content tests (if taken by March 5, 2007) and GACE content assessments to meet content
field testing requirements since tests for each field are stand alone tests.
- Can I get copies of my TCT scores from the PSC?
Contact Sherese Wilcox at sherese.wilcox@gapsc.com for assistance with getting copies of scores.
GACE:
- Where do I find information on how to register, get score reports, or get specific information about the GACEŽ program?
The GACE Web site (www.gace.nesinc.com) is the official site for GACE
information. The site includes test dates, registration information, the registration bulletin, the test design and framework, and
preparation materials for each assessment. General information on the assessment requirement in Georgia is available on the
PSC website, not on the GACE website.
- Has there been a change in the basic skills exemption based on SAT, GRE, and ACT scores with the
transition from Praxis I to the GACE Basic Skills Assessment requirement?
No, the exemption did not change as a result of the assessment change. See the PSC web site for more information on the required
scores. Note that the required composite SAT score includes only the verbal and math scores. The required SAT is 1000 on verbal
and Math sections only; ACT is a score of 43 on combined English and math, and 1030 on the GRE verbal and quantitative test.
(Exemption information is available on the PSC website. It is not available on the GACE website.)
- What are the dates for upcoming GACEŽ test administrations and when will scores be reported?
Test dates can be found on the GACEŽ Web site on the page titled Test Dates
(www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testdates.asp ).
The testing schedule includes score report dates, usually within four weeks of the testing date. Scores are available via Internet at 5:00 PM
on the day of score release. These Internet releases are "unofficial" score reports; the official report is mailed on the score report
date.
AN ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE BASIC SKILLS ASSESSMENT ONLY IS ON JUNE 30, 2007. One full administration remains
for this summer: August 4, 2007. Test dates for 2007-2008 are October 27, 2007; January 12, 2008; March 29, 2008;
June 14,2008; and August 23, 2008.
- What is the difference between an "assessment" and a "test" in the GACE program?
Each assessment is made up of one to three tests. The Professional Pedagogy assessment has two tests as do all content
assessments except middle grades. Middle grades assessments have one test each. The Basic Skills assessment has three tests,
and the Paraprofessional assessment has one test.
- How do I register for the GACEŽ and what forms of payment are accepted?
The registration bulletin is available on the GACEŽ Web site on the page tab titled
Register Now. This page contains details of registration procedures and options for payment.
In order to send registrations by mail, candidates must request a Registration Bulletin from the web site. All registration
forms must be received and all on-line registrations must be completed by 5:00 PM on the registration deadline date. Registrations
received after the deadline will be charged a late fee.
Note: registration forms may not be sent by FAX.
- If I took the test and do not think I passed, should I register for the next administration before I receive my score report?
No. You should wait to see if you passed the test before registering for it again. If you do not pass the test and you register
for the same test at the next administration, you may be able to register without paying the late or emergency registration fees.
See the section on
"Testing on Consecutive Test Dates" in "Test Fees and Payment Policies"
for details about conditions under which you may not be required to pay the late or emergency registration fee when registering
to test on consecutive test dates. You should read the information before you register to take the same test(s) the next session.
Note: If you register to take the same test or tests on consecutive test dates before receiving your score report from the
first administration, you assume full responsibility for all applicable test fees for both registrations, even if you subsequently
learn that you passed one or more tests on the previous attempt. No refunds will be made on the basis of a passing performance on
the previous attempt.
- Where will the GACEŽ be administered?
Test areas can be found on the GACEŽ Web page titled Test Sites:
(www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testsites.asp.)
Since this is a Georgia assessment, it is not administered outside of Georgia with the exception of some future
administrations for military troops and their spouses.
- How much do the GACEŽ assessments cost?
Information about test fees can be found on the GACEŽ Web page titled Test Fees and Payment Policies
(www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_testfees.asp).
- Are alternative testing arrangements available for persons with disabilities or
examinees whose religious practices do not allow them to test on Saturdays?
Yes, the GACEŽ registration bulletin (www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_altarrangements.asp)
provides details on documentation required for review of requests for such arrangements.
- Are there computer-administered or Internet-based versions of the GACEŽ Basic Skills Assessment and GACEŽ Paraprofessional
Assessment?
There are currently no computer-administered versions of the GACEŽ Paraprofessional Assessment and Basic Skills Assessment.
A computer-administered version of the Paraprofessional Assessment is scheduled for implementation June 2007 through school systems
who have requested it,
and an Internet-based version of the Basic Skills Assessment is scheduled for implementation during the 2007-2008 school year.
GACE SCORE REPORTS:
- If there are two tests in a content or professional assessment, are passing scores on both tests required to meet the
content or pedagogy assessment requirement and may both be taken on the same day?
Yes, passing the content or pedagogy assessments requires a passing score on both tests if two are included in an assessment.
All content assessments and the Professional Pedagogy assessment have two tests except middle grades content assessments which
are made up of one test each. Two content or pedagogy tests may be taken in one testing session or they may be taken on separate
testing days. Two middle grades content assessment may be taken in one testing session.
- Must I pass all three tests in the GACE Basic Skills Assessment, or is there an allowable composite score?
Candidates must pass all three tests in the GACE Basic Skills Assessment. There is no composite score option.
- I received a letter saying my scores were voided because I had a calculator when it was not allowed, had a cell phone,
etc. What can I do to get my scores released?
Any questions about voided scores should be directed to National Evaluation Systems, Inc. Violations of the agreen upon test
procedures are not handled by the Professional Standards Commission. All questions about voided test scores should be
directed to NES at 1-800-523-7064 or 1-413-256-2894. The FAX number is 1-413-256-8221. The mailing address is:
GACE Program
National Evaluation Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 660
Amherst, MA 01004-9002
If you want to contact them about a voided score, the recommended procedure is to send a letter or FAX to the Test
Administration Division at the address above. Be sure to include your name, candidate ID, what test you took and were, and a
detailed explanation of why you believe that there were extenuating circumstances that warrant a review. Possession of
cell phones and unauthorized calculators in the testing area are major violations and generally will not be reviewed.
- Additional information links
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