![Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators [GACE]](/rsc/img/gace_logo_200x82.png){kind=logo}
About the GACE® Assessments
What Are the GACE Assessments?
The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators® (GACE®) is Georgia’s state-approved educator certification assessment program. The purpose of the GACE assessments is to help the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) ensure that candidates have the knowledge and skills needed to perform the job of an educator in Georgia’s public schools. These computer-delivered assessments have been developed by the GaPSC and Educational Testing Service (ETS).
All GACE assessments are aligned with the state standards for the P–12 curriculum and with state and national content standards. Each GACE test was developed with diverse representation of Georgia educators from across the state, including the participation of committees of Georgia educators, educator preparation faculty, and other content and assessment specialists, including individuals from school systems, local schools, institutions of higher education (public and private), and other stakeholders. In other words, each GACE assessment was developed by Georgia educators to measure competency on what is taught in Georgia’s P–12 classrooms.
Who Takes the GACE Assessments and Why?
The GACE assessments are taken by individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, seeking educator certification in the State of Georgia, and/or seeking to become highly qualified in a core academic subject. Examinees should refer to the GaPSC website if they have questions about which tests they need for their individual certification. The GaPSC’s email address for certification questions is mail@gapsc.com.
What Assessments Are Offered?
The GACE assessments consist of five main assessment types: Content, Certificate Upgrade, Educational Leadership, Georgia Ethics, and Paraprofessional. See a complete list of assessments offered.
| Assessment Type | Assessment Description | Content | The content assessments test knowledge and content skills in specific certification areas. They are required for certification in the state of Georgia. Assessments consist of either one or two tests and contain selected-response questions, and, in some cases, one or more constructed-response (written, spoken, or signed) assignments. See Assessments Offered for specific information about each one. |
|---|---|
| Certificate Upgrade | The assessments for certificate upgrades in Curriculum and Instruction and in Instructional Technology were developed for educators seeking to achieve the professional level of certification in these fields. Each assessment consists of one test composed of selected-response questions and three or four constructed-response assignments. The portfolio-based GACE Teacher Leadership assessment was developed to assess the critical leadership roles that teachers play in contributing to student and school success. It consists of six tasks which are scored according to task-specific rubrics. Each task addresses specific standards within the Georgia Teacher Leadership Program Standards. |
| Educational Leadership | The Educational Leadership assessment is designed to assess knowledge and skills needed by educational leaders in Georgia schools. The assessment consists of one test composed of selected-response questions and four constructed-response assignments. |
| Georgia Ethics |
The Georgia Educator Ethics assessment is a training and assessment program composed of a series of modules that combine instruction and testing. The goal of the assessment is to help educators become familiar with, understand, and apply the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators, as well as comprehend and embrace the principles of ethical decision making in an educational context. Several of the modules include an end-of-module test with immediate feedback. There is also an end-of-course, or summative, test after you have completed all of the modules. The Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment is also composed of a series of interactive modules that combine instruction and testing. Several of the modules include an end-of-module test with immediate feedback. There is also an end-of-course, or summative, test after you have completed all of the modules. |
| Paraprofessional | The Paraprofessional Assessment is a single test that consists of selected-response questions only. This assessment measures the reading, writing, and basic math competencies of practicing and prospective paraprofessionals, and their ability to effectively use those skills in the classroom. |
How Do I Register to Take a GACE Assessment?
GACE assessments are given as computer-delivered tests at test centers throughout Georgia and many other locations. Once you have confirmed your eligibility and testing requirements, you can register online or by phone. See Registration, Test Centers, and Dates.
How Can I Prepare for a Test?
You can review the Study Companions, Tests at a Glance, Test Familiarization Videos, Interactive Practice Tests, and other test prep materials to help get ready for the test. You can also attend online webinars led by ETS-certified trainers that walk you through the different parts of the GACE assessments, inform you about available test preparation resources, and give you the opportunity to ask questions. See Test Preparation Resources.
See also:
- Getting Ready to Test
- Fees, Payment, and Refund Policies
- Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs
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