Bryan County Schools Superintendent Paul Brooksher is recommending that the board of education set aside its policy of using scores from the Georgia Milestones Assessment System in determining retention of students in grades 3, 5 and 8.

The board meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the district’s administration building in Black Creek.

The Georgia Department of Education earlier this month granted school districts a waiver from using the GMAS End of Grade tests in determining promotion, placement and retention of students because several districts reported technology-related interruptions during online testing in April.

During the school board’s work session Thursday night, Brad Anderson, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said the district wants to avoid retaining a student based on inaccurate information.

Brooksher said some districts reported that students were being logged out during the online testing.

“Bryan County Schools had a successful online testing experience,” Brooksher said. “Any interruptions were short-term and quickly resolved.”

Brooksher said if the board approves his recommendation, the district will “use a body of other evidence to determine grade placement for students who require a placement meeting.”

Brooksher also said students will still receive scores from GMAS testing and parents will be notified when test results are posted and paper copies will be available at schools when they are received.

State law requires third graders to score at or above grade level in reading to be promoted to fourth grade. Students in fifth and eighth grades must score the same in reading and at the “developing learner” level or above in math to be promoted to the next grade.