End of Course Testing in Georgia High Schools

The requirement for end-of-course testing to replace Georgia\u27s current high school graduation test surfaced on January 30, 1999, when Representatives Porter, Jamieson, Taylor, Ashe, and O\u27Neal co-sponsored House Bill 308. This bill amended the Quality Basic Education Act to require that secondary school students pass end-of-course tests in order to receive credit for Algebra I, American and Georgia Government, American history, American literature, Biology I, Chemistry I, Geometry, and Writing and Composition. According to this bill, the State Board of Education no later than July 1, 2000, would be required to adopt end-of-course assessment instruments ... and shall establish a passing score for each such instrument. On and after September 1, 2000, students would not receive credit for these courses unless they earned a passing score (Georgia School Superintendents Association, 1999-2000). The bill passed the General Assembly and became law on July 1, 1999