Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) is a group of standardized exams conducted by Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and administered by Evaluation Systems group of Pearson. The aim of this exam is credentialing of teachers for educating in Georgia public schools. GACE has been developed to maintain quality of education and standards of school education in the state.
Eligibility-
GACE test is taken by candidates who are willing to teach in public schools of Georgia. It is one of the requirements, but not the only criteria in appointment of teachers.
Test Overview-
Under GACE program, the following types of assessments are covered-
Basic skills assessment: – This test examines fundamental knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics skill areas. This assessment consists of subtests corresponding to each skill area. There are selected response questions in reading and mathematics subtests. The writing test contains both selected response questions as well as constructed response assignment.
Content assessments: – These exams assess subject specific knowledge. They are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Health and physical education, Health education, Mathematics, Middle grade mathematics, Physics, Science, Special education: science and mathematics, Technology education, Special education: Reading-English language arts-and-social studies, Special education: deaf education, Special education: general curriculum, Special education: adapted curriculum, School psychology, School counseling, Music, Spanish, Political science, Reading, Middle grade science, Middle grade social science, Middle grades reading, Middle grade language arts, Marketing education, Media specialist, Latin, German, History, French, English, Geography, Economics, Agricultural education, English, English to speakers of other language, Early childhood education, Business education, Early childhood special education general curriculum, Behavioral science, American sign language, Art education and Birth through five. There can be one or two tests in each content assessment. These tests comprise of selected response questions and constructed response questions.
Professional pedagogy assessment: – This exam evaluates pedagogic skills in domains like instruction, assessment, student development, learning, and professional practice. There are two tests in this assessment consisting of selected response and constructed response questions. A candidates who have already gone through an approved educator preparation programs need not to take this assessment.
Educational leadership assessment: – This exam is based on leadership skills required by teachers and administrators in a public school. It has two tests.
Paraprofessional assessment: – This exam is for credentialing of paraprofessionals working in Title I schools or paid by Title I funds. It is a single test comprising selected response questions. This assessment is based on imparting reading, writing, and mathematics skills; and reading, writing and mathematics readiness.
Test Format-
GACE exams are available in both paper based and computer based format. There are selected response questions (multiple choice, true/false etc) and constructed response assignments (writing tasks) in these tests. The candidates require taking one or more assessments depending upon their certification requirement.
Marking Scheme-
The result is a scaled score in range from 100 to 300. The raw score is sum of number of score-able selected response questions answered correctly and points gained on constructed response tasks. The passing score for each test is 220.
Schedule-
GACE is conducted on scheduled exam dates and testing windows (in case of computer based testing). Corresponding to each exam date, registrations are available in predetermined regular, late and emergency periods. The registrations can be done through internet, mail or telephone. The registration through mail can not be done in emergency periods, while registrations through telephone are acceptable only in emergency periods. The online registration is available for all periods.
These assessments can be taken any number of times. In computer based testing, the candidates require waiting for 30 days before each retest.
Exam Fees-
The fees for GACE assessments are as follow:
Basic skills assessment: – $25
Content assessment: – $70
Professional pedagogy assessment (per test): – $70
Educational leadership assessment (per test): – $70
Paraprofessional assessment: – $35
There are additional charges for computer based testing ($30), late registration ($30), emergency registration ($50), supplemental test administration ($45), change of registration ($25), re-scoring ($25), clearing the account ($20), and additional copy of test result ($10).