Below are your weekly updates and reminders from the Georgia Department of Education. Here are your links to the District Deadlines and To-Dos Dashboard and the Digest Archive.
2025-2026 Georgia Milestones Public Release
This year, GaDOE plans to publicly release 2025-2026 results in two phases: one release for mathematics, science, and social studies results in early August and one release for ELA results in early December. Given the implementation of new ELA standards and assessments, additional test development activities must be completed prior to the release of ELA results. The public release for mathematics, science, and social studies results is scheduled for Thursday, August 6. All summary results remain embargoed until publicly released by GaDOE.
HB 268 Suicide and Violence Prevention FAQ
Georgia House Bill 268 (OCGA 20-2-779.1) requires one hour of evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training and one hour of evidence-based youth violence prevention training for students. In compliance with Georgia State Procurement Code, GaDOE, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) conducted a Request for Qualified Contractors. The list of programs and frequently asked questions is linked below.
2026 Cohort Withdrawal Update and Summer Graduate Collection Applications Available in Portal
The 2026 Cohort Withdrawal Update (CWU) and the 2026 Summer Graduate Collection (SG) applications are now available in the MyGaDOE Portal. Both applications must be completed with superintendent sign-off by 4 p.m. on August 27 and are critical to ensuring accurate school and district graduation rates.
The CWU application allows districts and/or high schools to make needed withdrawal reason corrections (with appropriate documentation on file) for students in the 2026 cohort. The SG application, available to district staff only, allows the district to provide graduation information for 12th grade students not in the 2026 cohort who were reported with no withdrawal code or were reported as graduated with a Certificate of Attendance or a Special Education diploma in Student Record and graduated with a ‘G’ (General) or ‘L’ (Alternate) diploma between 5/15/26 and 8/14/26.
Contact the GaDOE accountability specialist assigned to assist your district with questions regarding the applications.
- Deadline: August 27, 2026 at 4 p.m.
- Contact: GaDOE Accountability Specialist List
Public Notice of ESSA Waiver for Brantley County Schools due to the Highway 82 Wildfire
GaDOE is seeking comments on a waiver request for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education (US ED).
As a result of the Highway 82 wildfire, schools in Brantley County were closed for a substantial portion of the state testing window for the state’s general assessment, Georgia Milestones. GaDOE is seeking to waive specific requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), for all Brantley County schools for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.
A survey with an opportunity for public comment is provided at the link below until 11:59 p.m. July 31, 2026.
- Additional Information: Federal Public Comment
- Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.