Augusta, GA

Local students prep as Georgia standardized testing returns

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2024

Local students prep as Georgia standardized testing returns

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Georgia Board of Regents will require students to take the ACT or SAT to get into four universities in the fall of 2026.

Those schools include Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta University.

Test requirements had already been restored for the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia College and State University — the system’s three most selective schools.

All of this means things are starting to return to how they were pre-COVID.

Both Richmond and Columbia county schools said just because the state put the requirement on hold, preparing students for the tests never stopped.

While the state pumped the brakes on SAT and ACT testing, Richmond County pressed the gas.

“We’ve always offered opportunities to help our students kind of hone in on those skills. We have prep classes at every high school, in addition to other resources that kids can engage in, just to kind of go ahead and maximize their potential on that SAT or ACT,” said Charlie Tudor, advanced studies program administrator for Richmond County schools.

Tudor says they start prepping students in eighth grade.

“All of our eighth graders take the PSAT in October of their eighth-grade year. We look at that data and go ahead and encourage our kids. Some of them are ready to take an AP class in ninth grade, we look at that AP potential there,” said Tudor.

Every year after, the curriculum is woven into their class schedule.

“Those skills and that knowledge are built into the curriculum already. A lot of our schools have SAT and ACT plans in there. There are also Saturday study sessions for certain targeted kids that need that extra support,” said Tudor.

Tudor says they never want cost to get in the way of academics.

“College Board and ACT, ‘ve always provided fee waivers based on your income. Here in Richmond County, if we know there’s a need for one of our students at the school level, we always make sure things happen to make sure there are no barriers or challenges as far as finances go with kids,” said Tudor.

Columbia County says they have been doing things just the same as before the pandemic as well.

All the requirements for ACT and SAT testing are set to start in the fall of 2026.

If you want to sign your child up for extra study classes, leaders say the best way is to contact the school counselor.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

8 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

20 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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