GACE

FAQ

 

What is the GACE for paraprofessionals (Paraprofessional Assessment)?

Paraprofessional Assessment

The Paraprofessional Assessment is designed to enable individuals and school districts to satisfy state and federal No Child Left Behind requirements that call for "highly qualified paraprofessionals." These requirements indicate that paraprofessionals must meet a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrate, through formal state or local assessment, knowledge of, and ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics; or knowledge of, and ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.

Who has to take the GACE for paraprofessionals?
For Georgia certification requirements, visit the PSC Web site at www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification.asp.
What are the upcoming Test Dates?
October 1, 2007
October 4, 2007
January 21, 2008

What is the test fee?
The fee for the Paraprofessional Assessment is $35

Can I pay by personal check?
Yes. Payments by personal check must be received one week prior to the test date. Checks must be made out to "Pioneer RESA - GACE"

Can I pay by credit card?
Yes, payment can be made on the day of testing using a major credit card
The test fee must be paid using a credit card (VISA or MasterCard only) or a debit or check card that carries the VISA or MasterCard logo and that can be used without the entry of a personal identification number (PIN). Bank cards without a VISA or MasterCard logo cannot be accepted. The merchant name that will appear on your credit card statement is "NES-Test Fee."

Can I pay using a money order?
Yes. Money orders must be made out to "Pioneer RESA - GACE"

What is the Test Site Location?
Pioneer RESA
Educational Technology Center (ETC) Lab
1342 Highway 254
Cleveland, Georgia 30528
Phone 706.865.2141 Fax 706.865.6748
Toll Free 1.866.812.7372
http://www.pioneerresa.org/etc

 What do I have to bring the day of the Test?
On the test day, you must bring the following personal identification:
One piece of current, government-issued identification, in the name in which you registered, bearing your photograph and signature
One additional piece of identification (with or without a photograph)

• If the name on your identification differs from the name in which you are registered, you must bring official verification of the change (e.g., marriage certificate, court order)

What is the length of the test?
The Paraprofessional Assessment is a single test that consists of selected-response questions and lasts for 3 hours.

What time does the test start?
The test will start at 10:00 a.m. Please arrive at the testing location at least 15 minutes before the test start time.

How long will it take for me to receive my scores?
Once the test is completed, you will be informed if you succeeded or failed. Your official score report will be sent by U.S. mail to the address that you provided during the registration process.

If I don't pass the test, may I retake it?
If you do not pass, you may retake the same test using the Internet-based or the paper-based option. However, you must wait at least 30 days before retaking the test. Examinees who retake the same test before 30 days have passed are subject to having their scores voided.

What are the Test Site Rules?
When you register for the Paraprofessional Assessment, you agree to comply with all of the set forth rules including the Rules of Test Participation (see "Compliance with Testing Rules)

Violation of test site rules, including the possession or use of prohibited materials during a test administration, may result in the voiding of your score.

The following are prohibited at the test site:

• Smoking and the use of all tobacco products
• Visitors, including relatives, children, and friends
• Weapons of any kind

Prohibited Materials:
DO NOT bring any unauthorized aids or prohibited materials, listed below, with you to the test room. If you do bring any of these materials, you will be required to leave them in a designated area.

• Cell phones (possession or use of )
• Electronic devices and media, such as PDAs, pagers, computers, audiotapes, CDs, photographic or recording devices, removable storage devices, calculator watches, spellcheckers, etc.
• Calculators
• Handwritten or printed materials, such as dictionaries, notebooks, scratch paper, textbooks, etc.
• Unauthorized aids, such as slide rules, rulers, translation aids, highlighters, etc.

Policy for voiding of test scores. If you violate one of the rules or if doubts are raised about the validity or legitimacy of your registration or your scores, the test administration personnel will notify NES, the PSC, and other parties as deemed appropriate by the PSC. The PSC and NES reserve the right to void your scores if in their sole opinion there is adequate reason to question your scores' validity or legitimacy, due to misconduct (including, but not limited to, a violation of the Rules of Test Participation, and the rules communicated to you, orally, in writing, or electronically, at the test site) or to circumstances within or beyond your control.
Further action may be taken, including denying, revoking, and/or suspending certification. Other actions, as described in the Rules of Test Participation, may be taken as deemed appropriate by the PSC and/or NES. Violation of the Rules of Test Participation may be a violation of the Georgia Code of Educator Ethics and may be grounds for denial, revocation, or suspension of Georgia educator certification.

Where can I find preparation materials?
Go to http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA_PG_177_opener.asp on the GACE Web site to view or print the GACE Paraprofessional Preparation Guide and other test preparation materials.

What are the payment policies?
If you are required to pay for your test, the following payment policies apply:

Payment policies. If, for any reason, your payment for a test date does not clear (for example, if you dispute a credit card charge), you will have an outstanding balance with National Evaluation Systems (NESR). In this caseyou will be assessed an additional fee by NES to cover the processing required to clear your account; you will not be allowed to register for future test dates until your balance, which includes the additional fee, is paid in full;you must make your payment to clear your account by cashier's check or money order only, unless you are making a subsequent credit card payment for additional services, in which case your credit card will be billed for both the outstanding balance and the additional requested services.

If you have any outstanding balance owed by you to NES 20 calendar days after the test date on which you took a GACE Internet-based test, all of your scores for that test date will be permanently voided and will not be reported to you, to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC), or to any institution or employing agency. It is your responsibility to ensure that your account with NES is paid in full and all payments have cleared by this deadline. Any payment received later than 20 calendar days after the test date will be used to clear your account but will not alter the permanent voiding of your scores. You may wish to call NES prior to this deadline to confirm that your payment has been received and your account is clear. The following additional policies apply to you when you have an outstanding balance with NES:

1. If you attempt to pay for any further services by credit card, your credit card will be billed for the amount of all services you have requested, as well as the outstanding balance owed by you to NES. You agree to pay for all such services and outstanding balances in the event your credit card company does not.
2. If you attempt to pay for any further services by check or money order, any payments received will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess applied to the requested services.
3. Any credits or refunds for which you may be eligible will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess to be returned to you.

What do I need to know about taking an Internet-based test?
The Internet-based test and the paper-based test are the same in terms of test session length, number of questions, and question type. However, the following list outlines procedures specific to taking an Internet-based test:

1. Be sure to arrive on time at the test site. If you arrive late, your ability to test may be jeopardized, and you may unfairly delay the testing of individuals scheduled after you.
2. A test administrator at the test site will guide you in registering for the test and arranging for payment.
   Before you begin the test, you will have time to review the online tutorial that offers a brief introduction to the Internet-based testing software. The tutorial includes guidance on how to take the test online and provides opportunities to answer sample questions.
3. When you have finished reviewing the tutorial, you will be prompted to begin the test.
4. Once you begin testing, you will have three hours to complete the test. Please note that a test administrator will be present at all times while you are testing.
5. You may answer the test questions in any order, review the answer sheet at any time throughout the test, and change your answers as needed.
6. During testing, you may take restroom breaks. Any time that you take for restroom breaks is considered part of the available testing time. You may not leave the test site or room in which you have been seated for any purpose (other than to use the restroom, as permitted) until you have been officially dismissed by the test administrator. During the test, you may not communicate with other examinees or any unauthorized persons in any way, either in person or by using any communication device.
7. You may end the test whenever you are done-you are not required to stay for the full test session. Should you become ill and unable to finish testing, you will have the choice to score or cancel the test.
8. When you have completed testing or when the test session ends, you may select the option to either score the test or cancel the test without scoring it. Once you have been dismissed by the test administrator, you may gather your personal belongings and leave the test site.

Score cancellation policy. You may choose to end the test without scoring it at any time. If you choose to cancel your score during the test session, your test performance will not be reported to you, to the PSC, or to any institution or employing agency. Your scores will not be entered into any GACE records; therefore, after the cancellation of your test, you will not be able to have your scores reported for any purpose. If your test is scored, you may not cancel the score after the test session.

How and when do I receive my score report?
When you are finished testing, select the option to have your test scored. Your official score report will be printed immediately, along with information about how to read your score report. If you passed the test, a second copy of your official score report will be mailed to you within one month of your testing date. In addition, your scores will be reported to the institution and/or employing agency that you indicated when you registered and to the PSC.

How do I request additional copies of my scores?
Go to http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA2_additionalscorereport.asp for complete information about how to request additional copies of your scores.

How may I cancel or reschedule my test appointment?
Call Pioneer RESA ETC at 706.865.2141

How do I request alternative testing arrangements for a disability?
If you wish to request alternative testing arrangements for Internet-based testing, you should call NES at (800) 523-7064 or (413) 256-2894 before scheduling an appointment to test.

What if I have questions not answered here?

If you have questions about:

1. Georgia certification requirements, visit the PSC Web site at www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification.asp.
2. Registration and test administration, contact Pioneer RESA ETC at 706.865.2141
3. The GACE Paraprofessional assessment, locate the appropriate topic on this Web site or contact NES using the information provided at http://www.gace.nesinc.com/GA2_contact_opener.asp

 

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