Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS)
ANNOUNCEMENT: The K-5 Mathematics Precision Review was approved by the State Board of Education in the fall of 2008. These standards are posted on this page and may also be accessed on the Mathematics page of GeorgiaStandards.Org. The GKIDS assessment materials reflect the K-5 Mathematics Precision Review as of the 2010 – 2011 school year.
The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) is a year-long, performance-based assessment. The goal of the assessment program is to provide teachers with information about the level of instructional support needed by individual students entering kindergarten and first grade. GKIDS will allow teachers to assess student performance during instruction, record student performance in an on-line database, and generate reports for instructional planning, progress reports, report cards, SST, and/or parent conferences. Throughout the year, teachers may assess students and record GKIDS data based on their system’s curriculum map or report card schedule. At the end of the year, summary reports and individual student reports will be generated based on the data the teacher has entered throughout the year.
Purpose
The primary purpose of GKIDS is to provide ongoing diagnostic information about kindergarten students’ developing skills in English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Personal/Social Development, and Approaches to Learning. GKIDS will also provide a summary of student performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics at the end of the kindergarten school year. GKIDS should serve as one indicator of first grade readiness. GKIDS will serve both a formative and summative role in assessing kindergarten students.
Domains of Learning
There are seven areas or domains of learning that are assessed as part of GKIDS:
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies (optional)
Science (optional)
Approaches to Learning
Personal and Social Development
Motor Skills (optional)
Four of these domains (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) are based on and aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards for kindergarten. There are also three non-academic domains that contribute to a student’s readiness for first grade (Approaches to Learning, Personal and Social Development, and Motor Skills). The domains of Social Studies, Science, and Motor Skills are optional. Systems may require teachers to use GKIDS to collect and report information locally on student performance in these areas, but this data will not be part of the end-of-the-year report, and it is not required to be entered into the GKIDS Data Entry and Reporting website unless required by the system. Systems have the option of requiring only some elements of Social Studies, Science, or Motor Skills to be assessed, all of the elements of these domains to be assessed, or none of the elements of these domains to be assessed.
Most GPS standards have multiple elements. In GKIDS, students are assessed at the element level of the GPS.
Performance Levels
ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science standards will be assessed using two to five performance levels for each element.
Not Yet Demonstrated
Emerging
Progressing
Meets the Standard
Exceeds the Standard
Non-Academic Domains
There are three non-academic areas that can be assessed using GKIDS: Approaches to Learning, Personal and Social Development, and Motor Skills. The Motor Skills domain is optional. Teachers may choose to record motor skills data only for students that demonstrate an area of concern. Students are assessed using the following performance levels:
Area of Concern
Developing
Consistently Demonstrating
The number of levels was determined by the GKIDS Advisory Committee and will be specific to each element of the GPS. The number of performance levels is based on the range of student performance that can be observed for each element.
Flexible Model of Assessment
In contrast to the previous Kindergarten assessment (GKAP-R), GKIDS does not have specified assessment activities. Instead, the teacher (or local system) decides which assessment activities to use and how frequently to assess. Teachers may use assessment activities that cover multiple elements at one time and/or assess multiple children at a single setting. Teachers may assess by observing student performance during the course of regular classroom instruction or by an assessment activity of the teacher’s choice. Because teachers have the freedom to assess according to the individual needs of each student, standard accommodations are allowed if the accommodations are a part of the student’s IEP, IAP, or ELL/TPC plan. Approaches to Learning
The Approaches to Learning domain of GKIDS includes the following three general categories:
Curiosity and InitiativeCreativity/Problem Solving
Attention/Engagement/Persistence
Personal and Social Development
Statements of observable student behaviors related to fine and gross motor skills are assesed in this category.
Personal Development:
Demonstrates self confidence/positive attitude
Adjusts well to changes in routines and environments
Expresses emotions and needs through appropriate words and actions
Social Development:
Treats others with respect in words and actions
Shows caring for others
Follows directions and school rules
Respects the property of others
Works cooperatively with others
Motor Skills
Statements of observable student behaviors related to fine and gross motor skills are assessed in this category.
Testing Windows
Except for the end of year summary report, there are no state-mandated testing windows for GKIDS. Systems may require testing windows based on their own unique schedules, reporting information at any time as required by the local district. Systems may also teach and assess the GPS based upon their own schedules as well.
Testing Materials
Pre-printed test booklets and activity kits will not be provided with GKIDS. This Administration Manual includes an assessment page for each element of the GPS. The assessment page contains the GPS standard and element, performance levels for assessing the element, sample assessment activities, and instructional suggestions for teachers and/or parents. These assessment pages are arranged by domain in sections 2-5 of this manual. Some elements also have resource pages that can be used to assess or document student performance. Teachers may use common classroom materials for assessment activities. Rather than recording student performance on an answer document, teachers will use the GKIDS Data Entry and Reporting Website.
GKIDS Data Entry and Reporting Website
The GKIDS data entry and reporting website will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except for scheduled maintenance) for teachers to enter student data. The web address is https://gkids.tsars.uga.edu/start. The website allows teachers to enter and manage data throughout the school year. Teachers can enter data by student or by element for the entire class. See section X of the Administration Manual for GKIDS website instructions.
Teacher-Generated (Formative) Reports
Teachers have the option of generating reports (on-screen and PDF) at any time during the year for instructional planning, progress reports, report cards, SST or parent conferences. On the website, teachers can select a student report by element, standard, or strand. These reports will indicate data the teacher has entered for all domains. A class report is also available. See Section XI of the Administration Manual for sample reports.
End-of-the-Year (Summative) Reports
After the final data is entered in late spring, an individual student report can be generated which will include English Language Arts, Mathematics, Approaches to Learning, and Personal and Social Development. School, system, and state summary reports created at the end of the year will include only English Language Arts, Mathematics, Approaches to Learning and Personal/Social Development.
GKIDS RESOURCES
GKIDS Administration Manual 2011-2012
GKIDS Quick Reference Page 2011-2012
GKIDS 2010-2011 Mid-Administration Presentation
GKIDS Assessment and Instructional Guide
GKIDS Parent Brochure 2010
» More
Update Bulletins GKIDS
K-2 Mathematics Precision Review - September 2008
3-5 Mathematics Precision Review - September 2008
GKIDS Statewide Scores
2010 GKIDS Testing Brief
2009 GKIDS Testing Brief
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Requirements | Feedback Copyright © 2010 Georgia Department of Education
ANNOUNCEMENT: The K-5 Mathematics Precision Review was approved by the State Board of Education in the fall of 2008. These standards are posted on this page and may also be accessed on the Mathematics page of GeorgiaStandards.Org. The GKIDS assessment materials reflect the K-5 Mathematics Precision Review as of the 2010 – 2011 school year.
The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) is a year-long, performance-based assessment. The goal of the assessment program is to provide teachers with information about the level of instructional support needed by individual students entering kindergarten and first grade. GKIDS will allow teachers to assess student performance during instruction, record student performance in an on-line database, and generate reports for instructional planning, progress reports, report cards, SST, and/or parent conferences. Throughout the year, teachers may assess students and record GKIDS data based on their system’s curriculum map or report card schedule. At the end of the year, summary reports and individual student reports will be generated based on the data the teacher has entered throughout the year.
Purpose
The primary purpose of GKIDS is to provide ongoing diagnostic information about kindergarten students’ developing skills in English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Personal/Social Development, and Approaches to Learning. GKIDS will also provide a summary of student performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics at the end of the kindergarten school year. GKIDS should serve as one indicator of first grade readiness. GKIDS will serve both a formative and summative role in assessing kindergarten students.
Domains of Learning
There are seven areas or domains of learning that are assessed as part of GKIDS:
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies (optional)
Science (optional)
Approaches to Learning
Personal and Social Development
Motor Skills (optional)
Four of these domains (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) are based on and aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards for kindergarten. There are also three non-academic domains that contribute to a student’s readiness for first grade (Approaches to Learning, Personal and Social Development, and Motor Skills). The domains of Social Studies, Science, and Motor Skills are optional. Systems may require teachers to use GKIDS to collect and report information locally on student performance in these areas, but this data will not be part of the end-of-the-year report, and it is not required to be entered into the GKIDS Data Entry and Reporting website unless required by the system. Systems have the option of requiring only some elements of Social Studies, Science, or Motor Skills to be assessed, all of the elements of these domains to be assessed, or none of the elements of these domains to be assessed.
Most GPS standards have multiple elements. In GKIDS, students are assessed at the element level of the GPS.
Performance Levels
ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science standards will be assessed using two to five performance levels for each element.
Not Yet Demonstrated
Emerging
Progressing
Meets the Standard
Exceeds the Standard
Non-Academic Domains
There are three non-academic areas that can be assessed using GKIDS: Approaches to Learning, Personal and Social Development, and Motor Skills. The Motor Skills domain is optional. Teachers may choose to record motor skills data only for students that demonstrate an area of concern. Students are assessed using the following performance levels:
Area of Concern
Developing
Consistently Demonstrating
The number of levels was determined by the GKIDS Advisory Committee and will be specific to each element of the GPS. The number of performance levels is based on the range of student performance that can be observed for each element.
Flexible Model of Assessment
In contrast to the previous Kindergarten assessment (GKAP-R), GKIDS does not have specified assessment activities. Instead, the teacher (or local system) decides which assessment activities to use and how frequently to assess. Teachers may use assessment activities that cover multiple elements at one time and/or assess multiple children at a single setting. Teachers may assess by observing student performance during the course of regular classroom instruction or by an assessment activity of the teacher’s choice. Because teachers have the freedom to assess according to the individual needs of each student, standard accommodations are allowed if the accommodations are a part of the student’s IEP, IAP, or ELL/TPC plan. Approaches to Learning
The Approaches to Learning domain of GKIDS includes the following three general categories:
Curiosity and InitiativeCreativity/Problem Solving
Attention/Engagement/Persistence
Personal and Social Development
Statements of observable student behaviors related to fine and gross motor skills are assesed in this category.
Personal Development:
Demonstrates self confidence/positive attitude
Adjusts well to changes in routines and environments
Expresses emotions and needs through appropriate words and actions
Social Development:
Treats others with respect in words and actions
Shows caring for others
Follows directions and school rules
Respects the property of others
Works cooperatively with others
Motor Skills
Statements of observable student behaviors related to fine and gross motor skills are assessed in this category.
Testing Windows
Except for the end of year summary report, there are no state-mandated testing windows for GKIDS. Systems may require testing windows based on their own unique schedules, reporting information at any time as required by the local district. Systems may also teach and assess the GPS based upon their own schedules as well.
Testing Materials
Pre-printed test booklets and activity kits will not be provided with GKIDS. This Administration Manual includes an assessment page for each element of the GPS. The assessment page contains the GPS standard and element, performance levels for assessing the element, sample assessment activities, and instructional suggestions for teachers and/or parents. These assessment pages are arranged by domain in sections 2-5 of this manual. Some elements also have resource pages that can be used to assess or document student performance. Teachers may use common classroom materials for assessment activities. Rather than recording student performance on an answer document, teachers will use the GKIDS Data Entry and Reporting Website.
GKIDS Data Entry and Reporting Website
The GKIDS data entry and reporting website will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except for scheduled maintenance) for teachers to enter student data. The web address is https://gkids.tsars.uga.edu/start. The website allows teachers to enter and manage data throughout the school year. Teachers can enter data by student or by element for the entire class. See section X of the Administration Manual for GKIDS website instructions.
Teacher-Generated (Formative) Reports
Teachers have the option of generating reports (on-screen and PDF) at any time during the year for instructional planning, progress reports, report cards, SST or parent conferences. On the website, teachers can select a student report by element, standard, or strand. These reports will indicate data the teacher has entered for all domains. A class report is also available. See Section XI of the Administration Manual for sample reports.
End-of-the-Year (Summative) Reports
After the final data is entered in late spring, an individual student report can be generated which will include English Language Arts, Mathematics, Approaches to Learning, and Personal and Social Development. School, system, and state summary reports created at the end of the year will include only English Language Arts, Mathematics, Approaches to Learning and Personal/Social Development.
GKIDS RESOURCES
GKIDS Administration Manual 2011-2012
GKIDS Quick Reference Page 2011-2012
GKIDS 2010-2011 Mid-Administration Presentation
GKIDS Assessment and Instructional Guide
GKIDS Parent Brochure 2010
» More
Update Bulletins GKIDS
K-2 Mathematics Precision Review - September 2008
3-5 Mathematics Precision Review - September 2008
GKIDS Statewide Scores
2010 GKIDS Testing Brief
2009 GKIDS Testing Brief
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Requirements | Feedback Copyright © 2010 Georgia Department of Education
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