CRCT

To the editor:
If, perchance, you read the AJC or watch Atlanta newscasts (I don’t do either) you may have heard that this year’s CRCT was a debacle. I beg to disagree.
The CRCT stands for something - I’m sure. What you need to know is that it tests all 1st through 8th graders in Georgia. It then compares your cherub’s scores against all the other cherubs in Georgia. Its also one the things the Primary, Elementary, and Middle school has to do well in to make AYP.
So how did we do on the CRCT? Very well, thank you. Like last year, Morgan County has over 90% pass-rate in almost every area. In fact, our scores are better than the state in every single category.
Primary School pass-rates were 90% or above in every category.
Elementary School pass-rates were over 92% in every category except for 3rd and 4th grade math and science. The reason for the slight drop in these scores was the new GPS tests. The new GPS standard, which aligns the curriculum with the CRCT, is a welcome departure from the haphazard approach the GA Dept of Education has had for many years. Finally, we’re testing what we’re teaching. But the GPS tests are harder, and the number of correct answers required to pass the test is higher. Thus, the rigor of the test has increased.
The Middle School scores, while not as high as the Primary and Elementary School, enjoyed the greatest gains over the passed two years. Their reading and language arts pass-rates were all above 91%. However, math – while much higher than two years ago – was down in 6th and 8th grade, and science was down in 8th grade. These lower scores were also attributed to the new GPS standards.
The big news on TV, of course, was that the Middle School Social Studies scores throughout the state were invalidated by State Superintendent Kathy Cox. According to Ms. Cox, this invalidation was because “misalignment between curriculum and assessment resulted in scores that are not trustworthy measures of student achievement.” In other words, the state-wide scores were so poor that the state threw out the new test.
Cynics of public education were gleeful. I think a more prudent person would realize that as we make change things for the better – as we make things harder – there are bound to be missteps.
The reason we have test pilots is that, despite the best engineer’s most advanced calculations, there are always things you didn’t think of. If you buy the first of anything; software, cars, cell phones, etc, you know there are going to be bugs. That doesn’t mean you stop inventing - it means you learn from your mistakes and try harder.
The Fordham Foundation ranks the Georgia’s new GPS curriculum as the 4th best in the nation. Georgia finally tests what we teach. As we increase our rigor, scores will temporarily fall.
All three of our schools should be proud of their CRCT scores. The Primary and Elementary scores are so high, they’re nearly in a position where they numerically can’t improve them. The Middle School has made huge gains – just three years ago some of their passing rates were in the low 60’s – now their mostly in the 90’s.
Despite the harder tests, our kids are doing better than they’ve ever done before. If you see a Morgan County teacher this week, you should thank her (or him).