PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon (GAD) opens the door to academic achievement for all students. An academic program for high school students, it challenges participants in 10 areas of study: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, and Speech. ​ GAD focuses on the importance of developing well-rounded individuals and provides an antidote to intellectual apathy and underachievement. This program provides incentive for average students, underachieving students, above-average students as well as academically talented students, to become interested in intellectual activities. Georgia Academic Decathlon Information for the 2026-27 school year is now available! Dates and Registration GAD Fall Workshop Visit the "How It Works" section of the "About" page to view the Updated GPA Rules and Eligibility Guidelines GAD MENU ORDER GAD HONOR CORDS GAD WELCOMES YOU TO JOIN US! PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon (GAD) opens the door to academic achievement for all students. An academic program for high school students, it challenges participants in 10 areas of study: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, and Speech. GAD focuses on the importance of developing well-rounded individuals and provides an antidote to intellectual apathy and underachievement. This program provides incentive for average students, underachieving students, above-average students as well as academically talented students, to become interested in intellectual activities. Learn More Here GAD MENU About GAD GAD Forms GAD Volunteer Information GAD Dates and Registration GAD Curriculum GAD State Winners GAD Fall Workshop GAD As An Elective Course GAD State Competition GAD Coaches Manual GAD General FAQs GAD Showcase Speeches Academic Decathlon®, United States Academic Decathlon®, U.S. Academic Decathlon®, USAD, Super Quiz™, and the USAD logo are trademarks and service marks of The United States Academic Decathlon® Association and are used under license. CONTACT: Michelle Crawford GAD State Director mcrawford@pageinc.org 404-414-3041

< RETURN TO GEORGIA ACADEMIC DECATHLON HOME Georgia Academic Decathlon GAD Coaches Manual The Coaches Manual is being updated for the 2026-27 season. Each updated section header is linked below. The Essay section is still undergoing revision. We'll post a link to the complete 2026-27 manual as soon as possible. Cover and Notebook Tabs Cover Page Spine Labels for Tabs (2 versions) p. i Table of Contents p. iii How to Use This Manual Contact Information/Names and Dates p. 1 Advisory Board p. 2 Competition Coordinators p. 3 USAD/State Officials p. 4 Competition Dates p. 5 Calendar Background Information p. 6 GAD History p. 8 How the Decathlon Works p. 9 To the AD Coach Registration/Team Eligibility/Study Strategies p. 10 District Registration p. 11 Team Selection p. 13 Team Eligibility p. 16 Teams and Conditions no pages 17-19 GPA Calculation Information (links to USAD Coaches webpage - scroll to bottom right) p. 20 Request for Student Replacement (Sample form) p. 21 Academic Elective Course p. 23 Study Strategies p. 25 Additional Study Strategies District Competition p. 27 Conducting a District-level AD Program Testing p. 29 What Tests to Take? p. 30 Guidelines for District-level Testing p. 31 USAD Calculator Policy p. 32 Testing Answer Form Essay p. 31 Essay p. 35 Judging Essay and Rubric Explanation p. 36 Essay Practice Prompts Essay Rubric - not included in the section download Interview p. 37 Interview p. 38 How Interview is Judged p. 40 Interview – Sample Topics p. 41 Tips for Constructing a Resume p. 42 Interview – Sample Resumes p. 44 Interview -Sample Schedule Interview Evaluation Form Speech p. 45 Speech p. 46 Prepared Speech p. 48 Speech – Coaching Tips p. 50 Speech Descriptors p. 51 Impromptu Preparation p. 54 Speech “Toastmasters” Tips p. 55 Speech Evaluation Form - not included in the section download p. 56 Timing Cards p. 59 Sample Speech Schedule Showcase Speeches Super Quiz p. 60 Super Quiz – Relay p. 61 Super Quiz – Scoring Scoring p. 62 Explanation of Scoring p. 63 Scoring Tips p. 64 Division Groupings p. 65 Wild Card Invitational p. 66 Wild Card-Directions for Calculating Scores Wild Card Self-calculating Excel Spreadsheet (This .xls file includes instructions and a sample spreadsheet) State Competition p. 71 Teams Advancing to State Competition p. 73 Code of Student Conduct p. 74 Dress Code p. 75 General Rules p. 76 State Competition – Identification Numbers Volunteer Form (online form) Documents no longer in the Coaches Manual Pages in this section are updated yearly and found in the Forms and State Competition Registration Packet sections of the website (will be updated every January). If a link to an online form isn’t active the form is probably not updated yet. p. 77 Competition Schedule p. 78 Directions p. 79 Parkview Campus Map Intent to Participate (online form) Preliminary Team Roster (online form) p. 80 Return Cover Sheet p. 81 Coach’s Agreement p. 82 Team Registration p. 84 Request for Special Needs/Consideration p. 85 Student Registration p. 86 GPA Worksheet Instructions GPA Excel Worksheet (links to USAD website) p. 88 Awards Banquet Reservations p. 89 Hotel Room Registration Information p. 90 Hotel Rooming List Media Information (online form) T-Shirt Order (online form) Appendix GAD Honor Cord Order Form – links to online store USAD Content Standards < RETURN TO GEORGIA ACADEMIC DECATHLON HOME Back to Top CONTACT: Michelle Crawford GAD State Director mcrawford@pageinc.org 404-414-3041

PAGE is the largest Georgia educator association, serving teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel, and students. We provide the best in membership, legislative and legal support. PAGE offering educators coaching and professional learning that enhances competence, confidence and leadership skills and students opportunities to learn and grow in the craft of teaching and to achieve academically and have those achievements recognized. The Fall 2026 Issue of PAGE One is Here! Read Here PAGE Congratulates the 18 Recipients of our 2026 Foundation Scholarships Full Winners' List Here Congratulations 2026 PAGE STARs! Learn More About PAGE STAR Congratulations to Riverwatch Middle School and all our 2026 Academic Bowl Winners! Click below to access the full list of winners: 2026 Winners Congratulations to Columbus High School and all our 2026 GAD Winners! Click below to access the full list of winners: 2026 GAD Winners What is PAGE COACHING? MORE HERE What's happening at THE CAPITOL? LEARN MORE Tell me more about MEMBERSHIP. LEARN MORE I have a LEGAL QUESTION. CONTACT LEGAL Does PAGE offer PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ? FIND OUT HERE. What are the benefits of joining PAGE? 1/9 Protection. Advocacy. Growth. Economy. Professional Association of Georgia Educators is the state's largest association for educators, serving teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel, and students. We provide the best in membership, legislative and legal support. PAGE offers educators coaching and professional learning that enhances competence, confidence and leadership skills and students opportunities to learn and grow in the craft of teaching and to achieve academically and have those achievements recognized. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Your voice with legislators and policymakers. Advocacy includes educator pay, Teachers Retirement System (TRS), school funding, and school safety. GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS More than $125,000 awarded annually to support professional growth as a Georgia educator and provide classroom resources. TEACHER AND STUDENT PROGRAMS Honoring educators and students through STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) and supporting academics through student competitions. LEGAL PROTECTION $1 million liability coverage*, $10,000 legal defense coverage*, and one-on-one guidance from our expert legal team. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH Personalized coaching provides strategies to overcome challenges; professional learning offers growth-focused learning to help you thrive. TEACHER PIPELINE High school programs encourage exploration of the profession. College modules prepare teacher candidates. Member services and supports enrich your career. *Coverage is limited to activities performed in a professional capacity, i.e., those duties required as a school or district employee. LEARN MORE ABOUT PAGE MEMBERSHIP WATCH THE VIDEO ABOUT PAGE BENEFITS PAGE STAR The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers most instrumental in their academic development. Read More PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PAGE professional learning is built upon the certainties that all students can learn, and all teachers are leaders in their classrooms. Our programs prepare educators to create rigorous, engaging lessons attainable by each student. Read More SCHOLARSHIPS The PAGE Foundation is dedicated to promoting excellence in Georgia’s public schools and offers scholarships to enhance the teaching profession. These scholarships assist educators, support personnel, and high school and college students. Read More PAGE IS PROUD TO SPONSOR TEACH IN THE PEACH A New Program Dedicated To Making Georgia the #1 State for Teachers to Teach Launched this year, Teach in the Peach is a Georgia Department of Education initiative designed to elevate the profession and help make Georgia the #1 state for teachers to teach. Central to the program is a website that highlights the many benefits of teaching in Georgia. This spring, Teach in the Peach welcomed incoming Georgia teachers during a state-wide educator signing day. PAGE is proud to contribute to the important mission of Teach in the Peach as a major sponsor. DISCOVER TEACH IN THE PEACH Photo: 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year Christy Todd (left), who led the launch of Teach in the Peach, joins PAGE in celebrating the the initiative during a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol.. Executive Director Craig Harper (third from right), Future Georgia Educators Coordinator and Membership Services Representative Mary Ruth Ray (second from right), and BJ Jenkins, Director of Membership Services (right) were on site for the announcement. PAGE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES STATE STAR STUDENT & TEACHER WINNERS MORE ABOUT PAGE STAR COLUMBUS HS WINS GEORGIA ACADEMIC DECATHLON STATE TITLE MORE ABOUT GAD RIVERWATCH IS PAGE ACADEMIC BOWL FOR MIDDLE GRADES CHAMPS MORE ABOUT ACADEMIC BOWL