FORSYTH COUNTY — Understanding the vast data involving a new statewide assessment can be overwhelming when trying to figure out how it applies to an individual student, so public school officials in Forsyth County are holding meetings to help parents.

During three meetings in January, translators with Forsyth County Schools will explain various aspects of the Georgia Milestones scores to parents and field questions about student reports.

The meetings, all set for 6:30 p.m., will be Thursday at Otwell Middle School, Jan. 12 at Piney Grove Middle School and on Jan. 19 at North Forsyth Middle School.

Last school year was the first time students took Milestones assessments, a standardized test across third-12thgrades in which elementary and middle school students took End of Grade tests, while high school students took End of Course exams.

“We will explain the new Milestones student reports. We will talk about changes, because there will be some minor changes coming in this administration of the assessments,” said Susan Norce, assessment coordinator for the school system.

Parents can also learn about “how well we did compared to the state” on systemwide scores and the district’s future plan for testing.

“We will talk about classroom connections and how we are preparing students for online state testing,” Norce said.

At the end of the meeting, parents can ask specific questions about their child’s score report.

Milestones was pitched by state officials as being more uniform across all grades than the previous CRCT and EOCT assessments it replaced.

From the beginning, it was expected that scores would come back lower due to a higher performance standard and passing rate – an effort to make the exams more representative of national standards.

Scores have been available online in the district’s Parent Portal since Nov. 16, with student score reports being sent home at the end of November.

Assessment officials have visited several elementary schools to explain Milestones results to parents, Norce said, though the meetings in January will serve the general county population.

Parents may view a presentation to help navigate the scale score and its relation to their child’s achievement level at Forsyth.k12.ga.us.