Why you should refuse the Georgia Milestones:

• When Georgia Milestones were optional in 2020-2021, many students did not participate. For example, in Atlanta Public Schools, only 34% of students in grades 3-8 took the test and less than 20% of high school students participated.
• Stand up against and refuse high-stakes standardized testing that disproportionately harms emergent bilingual, low-income, and minority students with test bias and excessive amounts of testing.

• Opting out calls for better assessment forms

• Negative consequences of the Milestones and other high-stakes testing

• Testing causes severe test anxiety and impact students’ mental health
• There is racial bias in standardized testing
• Low test scores label schools as “underperforming” or “failing”
• Tests do not accurately reflect the abilities of students
• The growth in student achievement on state assessments counts for 30% of teachers’ end-of-year assessment

• No school or district has ever lost federal funding because of students opting out of testing. Further, states cannot withhold Title I funds from schools due to high refusal rates.