Georgia Performance Standards
K-12 Language Arts

With the implementation of the new Georgia Performance Standards between 2004 and 2009, the public school system of Georgia adopts a standards-based approach to student learning. Through thoughtful curriculum planning, development of formative and summative assessments and instructional design matched to the standards and research-based practices, Georgia's goal is to lead the nation in improving student achievement.

During the 2004-2005 school year all K-12 English/Language Arts (ELA) teachers will be trained in the K-12 ELA Performance Standards with initial implementation during the 2005-2006 school year. The Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) will reflect these new standards with the April, 2006 administration of the assessment.

The new Georgia ELA Performance Standards address some of the problems inherent in the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC), our state curriculum for many years. Characteristics unique to the new GPS are:

. A ladder curricular design that requires mastery of skills and concepts at specific grade levels - eschewing the spiraling curriculum that has     valued readiness over mastery and has allowed students to move from grade to grade with vague expectations of achievement.
. An expectation of depth of instruction; giving each grade level fewer concepts and skills and adequate time for students to master them at the application, analysis, and synthesis levels of cognition.
. A consistency across classrooms, grade levels, schools, and systems so that expectations of achievement leave no child behind.
. Assessments that drive instruction - beginning with the end in mind, "What do we want students to know and to be able to do?" and then designing learning opportunities to get all students there.

The Georgia ELA Performance Strands are:

K-3
READING
Concepts of Print (K-l)
Phonological Awareness (K-l)
Phonics (K-2)
Fluency (K-3)
Vocabulary (K-3)
Comprehension (K-3)
WRITING (K-3)
CONVENTIONS (3)
LISTENING/SPEAKING/VIEWING (K-3)

4-12
READING
WRITING
CONVENTIONS
LISTENING/SPEAKING/VIEWING

At completion, each standard will consist of four parts: the standard and its elements; suggested student tasks to achieve mastery of the standard; models of student work for rigor; and teacher commentaries for consistency of expectations. A sample ELA Standard is:

ELA3W1g      
ELAW1 The student demonstrates competency in the writing process. The Student:
g. Begins to develop characters through action and dialogue.

ELA = English Language Arts
3 = Grade 3
W = Writing strand
1 = Standard number 1
g =Element