Get Schooled

By yolanda

June 9, 2005 11:35 AM | Link to this

I don’t think that children should be retained, because of the results of one test. I have been saying this, since Georgia started this ridiculous policy. If children do well all school year, and fail one test, then your’e saying to them that it’s okay to screw around around all year long, as long as you pass some test at the end of the year. That’s absurd, and discouraging.

By Cynthia

June 9, 2005 11:40 AM | Link to this

AMEN!!!!! Yolanda.

By Jake

June 9, 2005 12:12 PM | Link to this

If you read the article and see what happened to most of last year’s failing 3rd grade students, about half passed the retest and a lot of them were promoted anyway, based on parent-teacher-administrator meetings. It seems this combination approach allows all qualified students to get promoted one way or another.
What’s ridiculous is passing the kids year after year until they get to high school and still can’t read. Look at the pass rates for 1st grade, 5th grade, and 7th grade, they get progressively lower. To which Ms Cox says she’ll work on the middle school curriculum next year.

By Shawn

June 9, 2005 12:29 PM | Link to this

I don’t think that a child’s promotion should be solely based on one test. A lot of students are not great test-takers and depending on the economic levels there are a lot of other factors to consider when talking about testing. I DO however think that the CRCT should play a part in deciding promotion. If a child was going through some things at home all year that was affecting their performance in the classroom,even if they were trying very hard to complete the requirements, and they passed the CRCT it could be a useful tool to say that the child does know and understand the material. If there is a situation like attendance and we have to hold all of these ‘placement’ meetings to decide what to do with the child we could use the scores to say that even though the child missed more than the allotted number of days they do understand the material. Yes, the data from the test should be used to help in the decision-making process during placement meetings and to determine what teachers are doing in their classroom. I know that I would really like to see some compensation for those of us who are teaching and showing results year after year.

By yolanda

June 9, 2005 12:30 PM | Link to this

I have read the article and other articles pertaining to the CRCT, past and present. I still have the same opinion. Of course there are exceptions, in every case. But, hyping up one test so much, as if the other daily schoolwork is not nearly as important is just wrong to me. Remember, these elementary age children are still babies, in a sense, even though some of them don’t look like babies on the outside. Encourage the kids all year long to do well, not just one week before a test. Nobody likes to be ridiculed, not even adults, so what makes people think that’s it’s ok to do it to developing minds and spirits. This is merely my opinion.

By yolanda

June 9, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this

Brilliant Shawn!

By Dan

June 9, 2005 12:48 PM | Link to this

If they do well all year and fail it means one of three things, they had a bad day, they are poor test takers, now in both these scenarios teachers should and do get together and pass the student anyway, the third scenario is their grades were inflated and they really haven’t learned the material. Which is what usually happens and why the test is necessary in the first place. Lets not forget this is not a test to display mastery of a subject but the bare minimum necessary to complete next years course work

By yesiamworried

June 9, 2005 12:52 PM | Link to this

At our school, none of the fifth graders who failed the test had been at our school before 4th grade. Sometimes, I suspect, that some of these parenst are moving around because their kids are either in trouble acadmically or behavior problems. They either are looking for a place where no one will hassle them or for a place where their kids might do better.

In about 50 percent of the cases, the parents refused to allow volunteer tutors to work with their kids. These same parents didn’t attend the many meetings held during the school year about the test. At least all the kids are going to summer school.

While I don’t believe that retention is the answer for all children and I don’t believe that the CRCT should be the only factor, I do think at some point we have to have an expectation that students are genuinely ready for the next grade.

By Lisa

June 9, 2005 12:55 PM | Link to this

Last year students only had to answer 17 of 40 questions correctly on the 3rd grade Reading CRCT to pass the test. The state hasn’t released the cut scores for this year, but there’s no reason to believe they have changed since comparisons are being made to previous years scores.

The bar has been set so low that it’s frightening to me that any child would fail the test and then be promoted anyway. The test isn’t the be-all, end-all of student acheivement, but at least it’s a start.

By Robert

June 9, 2005 01:10 PM | Link to this

Without a doubt, students SHOULD be held back if they cannot pass these tests. The tests are very simple and students only have to answer very few correctly in order to pass. There must be some minimum requirement to get promoted.

I am a high school teacher and am tired of seeing students that have been promoted through elementary and middle school that cannot read or even do the most basic math. Then, we high school teachers have been expected to perform miracles to get these students to pass the graduation test - how ridiculous!

By Don

June 9, 2005 01:18 PM | Link to this

It is unfortunate we have to treat these children like some sort of lab rats until the state education department gets it right. While many would like to think its true, not all of these students are failing because of socio-economic causes. The children donot get to adjust the system to fit their needs, school administrations do. Whenever state rankings are made public “its time to turn the screw”.

By slim1975

June 9, 2005 02:31 PM | Link to this

I totally agree w/Shawn. The test should be used to help decided if the student should pass. But not as the sole resource. As stated earlier, if the student has done well all year but did not pass the test. There’s great chance that there’s an outside source effecting the performance of that day and not necessarily that the student needs to be held back.

By Sylvia

June 9, 2005 02:39 PM | Link to this

Since the CRCT test is a curriculum test, I would generally agree that if you fail you should not pass, however what about a child who aces the math but fails the reading (or vice versa)? Also, if the reading test is anything like the sample C.R.C.T. test for 3rd grade reading given on the D.O.E. website, then there is a problem with these tests. In the story “Frederick’s Alligator” about a boy who tells everyone that he has various wild animals at home and then finds a real alligator which he brings to school, the test asks: “How will Frederick’s teacher MOST LIKELY “”feel”” when he brings his alligator for show and tell?”. Choices: A. afraid, B. surprised, C. angry, D. Proud. Well, it is possible for either A. or B. to be correct. How the heck can you ask how someone will FEEL, especially when no clues are given in the story. What if the teacher was deathly afraid of reptiles? Would she be afraid or surprised? Both? What if the student is afraid of alligators? How do you keep the child from projecting his/her “feelings” on to the teacher? These tests should only have ONE correct answer, with NO other possibilites, especially when discussing an emotion not a fact! Right? Its a great little story, but this question is not fair, or reasonable. Why can’t they do a better job of formulating questions?

By Sly

June 9, 2005 02:42 PM | Link to this

You cant holed me back just becoz I didnt pass this test. Thats unfare and embarasing. Im just nott a good testaker. Butt I have dun real good threw the year so I deserve to get my promosion to the next graid. No wut I’m sayin?

By Jex

June 9, 2005 03:13 PM | Link to this

Touché, Sly. Touché. Or, for those who can’t pass the test, “Yeah.”

By Gia

June 9, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this

When we stop making excuses, maybe we can concentrate on actually helping our kids. “Not good test-takers?� That’s a load of crap. And it’s been a poor excuse from the beginning. If you know something, you know it. If you crammed information into your head the night before, you’re going to have problems. I grew up in the projects, eating government cheese and the whole nine. I had breakfast and lunch at school, and if I missed it, I was SOL. But somehow, with a rumbling tummy, and some times no lights to study by, and having to walk from the bus stop through drug infested areas, I was an above average student, and subsequently attended and graduated from an accredited university.

These tests are an indication of whether or not the students have absorbed what was presented to them. If they fail, they haven’t grasped the basic concepts. I think they should be given a second chance to pass the test, but I don’t think they should pass to the next grade. That’s not fair to the other students you have done well all year and are ready to move on. Please stop making excuses.

By MrLiberty

June 9, 2005 04:05 PM | Link to this

For those of you with the courage to read some hard truths, check out these three links. These commentaries are in response to a web site for whining Gwinnett county parents and this same test. Come on, have the guts, you might just learn something.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north376.html

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north377.html

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north378.html

By Machelle Paden

June 9, 2005 04:51 PM | Link to this

My 5th grader took the test and passed Reading and miss math by two (2) points. On his report card, he have A’s, B’s and two C’s in Social Studies and Science. On his report card that was mailed home, the placment for next year is 5th grade, Imagine how I had to explain to my child that making all these good grades all year long really didn’t mean anything but because he missed the math part of the test by two points is what’s going to keep him in the 5th grade. So how do you explain that to a child. Well I’m sure that’ll just boost his self esteem huh? knowing that all that hard work was in vain.

By RC

June 9, 2005 04:53 PM | Link to this

The scariest thing for me is that there are children passing the CRCT that should not. For the past two years every kid in my class passed the third grade test. Not a small feat for a north or east Cobb school, but it is an accomplishment for a south Cobb school. While I should be doing the happy dance, I know that each year I’ve had at least 4 kids that I would not give a snowball’s chance of passing the test. If a kid can not pass the test with such a low pass score, then they should repeat. By the time the CRCT rolls around these kids have taken the ITBS, CRCT practice tests, and the online Performance Based Assessment. If they don’t test well, they’ve had plenty of time to practice.

By Bubba

June 10, 2005 08:49 AM | Link to this

Having a minimum skills test is ok - we have them all over the place as adults - the bar exam for lawyers, certification tests for all types of jobs - CPAs, police officers, teachers, physicians, and to get a driver’s license. Even McDonald’s has some type of training program where one has to demonstrate minimum competency … So I don’t have a problem with having a minimum skills test but they have to be relevant. If we add more of these high stakes tests in the later grades, I can see a problem down the road with relevancy - In the adult world, we rarely have to use even basic algebra in our daily lives so should it be part of a minimum skills assessment for a basic high school diploma? For kids going on to college certainly, but a lot of kids aren’t smart enough to go to college, they need solid basic skills and a good vocational program. I see too many kids struggling to pass algebra when they can’t balance a checkbook or understand interest rates. If we continue down this road and place pre-college requirements on the minimum skills test, we will end up increasing the drop out rate, like Texas found out, or you will have a huge number of 20 year olds sitting in 9th and 10th grade classrooms.

By Dan

June 10, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this

Machelle I don’t envy you explaining that to your child, but your anger is misplaced, if a child legitimately earned A’s and B’s in math they would have easily passed the test a D student should pass the test. Unfortunately the responsibility lies with the teacher who by giving him the unearned grades artificially raised his esteem while at the same time failing to address his weaknesses. If he she had done so and he worked hard at it he may well have earned his A’s and B’s and passed the test. This is exactly why these tests are necessary. Better to have this problem now then in HS where it could impact his future decisions

By hollie a ryder

June 10, 2005 09:19 AM | Link to this

Face recently released facts, -real evaluations over a reasonable period of time should be employed for promotion to new challenges or responsibilities. Ones own or others inflated opinions of an individual’s intellectual abilities are often extremely biased, due to an almost infinite number of possibilities. The individual still has to perform well at some designated point in time. Just ask John Kerry!

By Dan

June 10, 2005 10:05 AM | Link to this

To the moderator of GET Schooled why don’t you do a blog asking people to share a story of a teacher who changed their life or at least made a lasting impression. It would be a nice change of pace after the bashing they have taken here.

By dubya

June 10, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this

Why keep testing to prove that schools are ineffective? Why don’t we concentrate on the real reason children are failing. THEY CAN’T READ. When reading was a subject and teachers monitored the reading progress of students, you were able to tell why they weren’t learning. If they can’t read, they can’t do anything else.

By wwww

June 10, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this

There are so many factors that contribute to a student moving to the next grade level - grades, discretion of the administration, the CRCT is a part of a bigger picture much of the time. What many people outside of education do not understand is that to pass the CRCT, a student has to answer a very minimal percentage of questions correctly. If a child is not able to do that, he or she should either repeat the grade, or take a summer school course. Promoting kids who don’t have the skills is a terrible idea - a huge burden on high school education who are then passed on and graduate without basic skills.

By RC

June 10, 2005 11:21 AM | Link to this

Dan, Machelle said that her child made A’s, B’s, and C’s in Social Studies and Science. The elementary CRCT tests for these two subjects are more like the game Trivial Pursuit. There is little or no math reasoning on either test, so they wouldn’t give a picture of whether her child could pass the math portion of the test. What were her child’s math grades like?

That said, our school administrator addressed the issue of grades and CRCT scores. She asked, “How would you justify your grades to a parent who’s child had just failed the CRCT?” In Cobb County, we have the most bogus report card grading ever invented for grades K-3. Descriptors like E (Consistently produces outstanding work and effort) can be translated by any teacher to mean anything they choose. One teacher grades strictly and uses numerical scores. Another teacher uses a system of checks, minuses, and pluses. Atleast 4th and 5th grades are now being held to grading scales set by the county.

By FunkyGee

June 10, 2005 11:41 AM | Link to this

Why can’t the students who fail the test retake it? Give them one more chance. How would that hurt? The test shouldn’t be as ultimate as it is. Just look at many of the bloggers here. Their word choice and spelling is below par, but they probably have jobs/careers that get them past these deficiencies.

Why do so many people use possessives wrong BTW? A’s , B’s etc. What’s possessive about a letter grade?

By Anonymous Teacher

June 10, 2005 12:42 PM | Link to this

From my viewpoint as a teacher, high stakes testing is both a fact of life that we must learn to cope with and an inappropriate single factor for determining grade promotion.

From my viewpoint as a parent, I too would have a difficult time with my son being “kept back” based of his performance on a single test. It is not indicative of the work he has completed during the entire school year.

(Teacher)But, let’s face it! The CRCT is “dumbed down”; the cut scores are ridiculously low. There is plenty of practice on CRCT- or High School Graduation Test- or the End of Course Exam-like testing opportunities during the school year. I know that in my own classroom, I pattern the assessment insturment for whatever I am teaching currently. A student of mine is thoroughly versed in the format of standardized tests. Of course other factors should be considered when grade promotion is an issue presented by failing or failing any of these mandated tests. My experience is that consultation with the classroom teacher, counselors, and parents occurs after the test scores are returned. I try to look at these mandated tests as a means of highlighting students who are stuggling or at least struggled on testing day(s). There is a retest at the end of the summer, but I worry that the scores of the retest will not be available until after the next school year has begun. It is pretty disruptive to the educational process for any given student to be moved to a different grade level after the school year begins.

(Parent) Involving parents in the decision is a good move. You better believe when I get the word that my child failed or partially failed CRCT that I would rush to the school to find out what the school planned to do to help him pass on-the retest. If he failed the retest, I would again rush to the school and expect to work with the administrators, his counselor, and his teacher(s) in determining the appropriate grade assignment. That said, I realize that many, maybe most, parents would not know to or have the opportunity to contact the school and become part of the process of preparing for the retest and, if failed, insist that all pertinent personnel be required to participate in the grade assignment conference(s). Schools do not operate during parent-friendly times of the day. Some parents have language barriers that they believe will keep them out of the process. Other parents just accept the word of authority figures; afterall, they are the professionals, right? Some parents can barely manage their own lives, let alone feel up to takingon the problems of a failing child and the educational bureaucracy! It’s too overwhelming even to consider. And then, unfortunately, there are even parents who could care less. They yell at the child or ridcule the child or perhaps even administer a beating. Their response demoralizes the child in oh so many ways. Schools must really go out of their way to ensure that parents feel welcomed to become a part of the team. That may mean providing transportation and childcare to help parents to physically become involved. That could also require hiring interpreters, and for goodness sake, do not use my child to interpret for me. The schools may even have to visit in homes in order to engage parents in the process. Yes, I know this is expensive, but isn’t a child you are considering holding back worth it? (Parents of students in Title I schools, encourage the principal to provide any or all of the services needed to bring you into the process. These schools are required to spend 2% of their total Title I allotment on parent involvment activies. Remind or ask the principal if or how that 2% has been or will be spent to help you become involved in your child’s educational process!)

My bottom line is try view the CRCT (or GHSGT or EOCT) a cut measure that should enable you and the school personnel to intervene, remediate, AND consider other appropriate factors prior to making a grade placement decision. And to parents of children who did not fail the CRCT et al, speak up if you are at all concerned that your child’s score is significantly higher than the child’s schoolwork and grades during the school year; speak up if you feel that it might be in your child’s best interest to repeat the grade level. Involve the same school personnel and yourself in the same kind of grade placement process. Sometimes the professionals can help ease your concerns, and sometimes it is easier and quicker to move on a child who passes the test than it is look at other factors that perhaps could reveal that the child is not ready to move on to the next grade level.

By Anonymous Teacher

June 10, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this

To Funky Gee: You are correct; there is nothing possessive about a letter grade. Letter grades, indeed all single letters on a printed page, should simply by written as The letter (capitalized and underlined!) followed by a lower case S, i.e., As, Bs, Cs, etc. (Plain text documents cannot use underlining; please mentally underline the capital letters in my examples.)

By Debra

June 10, 2005 02:23 PM | Link to this

WAKE UP!! There has to be some point where we draw the line. We are talking about answering only 41% of the test questions correctly to pass - at what point are we going to hold parents, students and teachers accountable. We are currently 49th in SAT scores for a reason. Children who can not read, can not function successfully beyond the 3rd grade. You can look to the grade level abilities represented in our prison system - majority do not function above 3rd grade in reading or math - to see that.

As a former sixth grade science teacher, I had students (majority) who still counted on their fingers and could not read a ruler correctly. My frustration at teaching was only preceded by our team’s math teacher who was supposed to be teaching begining algebraic functions and spent the first half of the year working on simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. At the begining of the year, 90% of our students failed a basic addition and subtraction test and did not have the first clue on how to use a decimal.

There has to be some point of accountability - good, bad or indifferent - at least there is a starting point from which to work. Having a check system in place for 3rd, 5th and 8th grade will pay off so that these kids and parents get the extra remediation that they need as well as identifying ineffective teachers. Let us not continue to wait until a student repeatedly fails the high school graduation test before we realize that there was a problem somewhere down the road.

By Dan

June 10, 2005 04:08 PM | Link to this

RC she said S’s B’s and two C’s in Social studies and Science. Since she made reference to numerous grades but only two subjects it seemed like she was saying the C’s were SS and Sci. meaning math must have been an A or B The subjective nature of grading and the different scales used are just one more reason to use the tests. BTW I don’t know all of the pieces used to determine promotion to the next grade, but it seems to me if only one test was passed the child good move on and just be left in a lower math class

By Dekalb parent

June 10, 2005 04:30 PM | Link to this

Dekalb county should not had put “retained” on ALL the kids report cards, even if they passed or not. Only Dekalb County can get away with this. Who wants a report card with retained in current grade printed on it although the child passed the test and is being promoted?

By sciteacher

June 10, 2005 04:42 PM | Link to this

I am in the same boat as Robert. I am a High School Science teacher that agrees that these tests are necessary. Starting last year when our school missed AYP our school contracted with a literacy coach out of New Orleans. For Science and Social Studies we now administer reading tests at the begining of each semester. Last semester of my 64 students, 32 fell below 6th grade reading levels. I teach 10th and 11th graders. Letters were sent to parents offering free enrollment at Sylvan Learning Center or free Saturday tutorials operated by UGA. After little response we had a tutorial information night with dinner (3 nights in a row) but 67 parents showed in all (we have 1100 students). As a result of these efforts and mandated calls to all of our students we had only 7 students end up at Sylvan one was from my class. That one student was the only one of the 32 that passed the End of Course Test. I have just returned home from another day of classes on how to teach reading - remember I’m high school science. If we can get help for the students earlier we can see a difference down the road. Parents need to support this effort and their students. I’m having to put other professional learning courses on hold to take this - my 4th- class on how to help teach reading in a non-Language Arts class. At this rate I’ll soon be a science teacher with a Masters in Reading.

By sciteacher

June 10, 2005 04:47 PM | Link to this

If you are a parent that is against these pass or fail test take a minute and think. Teachers must either pass a mandated test or they are not allowed to teach pass their probational period. If previous good grades are your reasons to let the child go on then let do that for teachers too. Under this situation there would not be a shortage of teachers in any school.

Now - what is your veiw of the need for minimal testing?

By RF

June 13, 2005 10:05 AM | Link to this

Way to go Gia!! You prove the system works when all participants want it to work. The problem is that kids who fail these basic level tests simply do not need to move on to the next grade level. If a child truly wants to learn, then it will happen. As a teacher, I’ve spent countless hours trying to help kids and motivate them to learn when they simply don’t care about themselves or their futures. “Victims” of poverty are only so because they refuse to put some effort into life and rise up out of bad situations. Thanks Gia for reminding us all that it can be done.

By WOW

June 13, 2005 10:46 AM | Link to this

to the sciteacher,

all i have to say is WOW. i had no idea.

By Eric

June 13, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this

I am a concern parent and I think the CRCT is a great tool to measure some understanding of a student progress but we should not place all emphasis on this test. I am from the old school and believe we should put most of our trust in the teachers. I know that there are some great educators in the school system that gear most of their curriculum around some form of standardizing test. I think we should put most of the promotion decision on the teacher recommendation. Teachers must be certified to teach and I place my confidence on those professional educators. I also think we parents blame the teachers to much for things we can correct at home.

By DB

June 13, 2005 11:08 AM | Link to this

This “whining” is absolutely unbelievable! Do you guys really not expect to hold your kids accountable for their education? Do you realize how STUPID the average public high school graduate is when they enter the real world? Many need to quit underestimating the abilities of the “poor little children” and start giving them some firm expectations. Sure, some problems on the tests may be terrible, and they need to be changed. But the test as a whole isn’t that bad that kids can’t pass it. Push to change the tests, not to eliminate them. For your children that don’t do well on tests, this is the only way to learn! So deal with it, and help your kid get ready for taking tests in the future. That’s what it’s all about.

By DB

June 13, 2005 11:24 AM | Link to this

FunkyGee: I see you went to public school to learn what most learn, to be disrespectful and arrogant given your obvious lack of knowledge. Also, in the sentence you used below, the word “wrong” is not an adverb, and adverbs should go before the verbs they are modifying. So take a look at the correct version of your sentence below it. And using the word “wrong” is a poor choice in that case. It should have been “wrongly” to make it an adverb.

Why do so many people use possessives wrong BTW?

By the way, why do so many people inappropriately use possessives?

At any rate, the point on this blog is to write what we can in the time we have, which isn’t much if you are working or busy. So let’s just get off each other’s back about our prose and look for the meaning of the posts.

I feel somewhat regretful that I was unprofessional in correcting your flawed writing, but then again, I felt you needed to be put in your place at the same time.

By TTB-POTS

June 13, 2005 11:27 AM | Link to this

Trying To Be Part Of The Solution - formerly posting as “Another Teacher” just like several others…

Anyway…

In answer to the original question - yes, it is a good idea to “retain” students who do not pass the math, reading, and ELA (English/Language Arts)sections of the CRCT. Why? Because without those basic skills, students will not do well in ANY subject. I think the idea of “gateway” years, to assess a student’s progress is a good one. I also think the way Georgia implemented it (3rd last year, 5th this year, and 8th next year) is not bad.

I put “retain” in quotes because the process is not as simple as simply having the child repeat the grade. I think the child needs to have his academic record checked by a counselor and there should be a conference with the teacher(s), parent(s), counselor, and administrator. The child should be placed in some kind of intense summer program and given a chnace to take the test again. If after all that, the child still fails, then he should either be retained or placed in an alternative program (there was some sucess in schools that placed “retainees” in the next grade level, but with additional support). The alternative program could consist of mandaory after-school or Saturday school tutoring, or it could be pull-out style during the school day. The school counselor and/or socail worker could get involved if it’s a case that warrants it.

If there is a discrepancy between the grades a child receives and whether or not they pass the test, then the school’s and/or teacher’s grading policy should be evaluated. However, we all know that there is grade inflation out there…

By RC

June 13, 2005 11:28 AM | Link to this

Hey, sorry about the apostrophes. Just shows we’re never too old to learn. I don’t think the report card for Machelle’s son should have had the next year’s placement on it until the teacher was sure. Here’s how the information happens when the test scores arrive in my district. The principal gets a list of the kids that failed the test and their scores. If the kid’s name isn’t on the list, they passed. A day or so later, we get all the kids’ scores on a list. The individual test results to be sent home to parents doesn’t come until July or August.(We passed ours out at Sneak-a-Peek.) Our principal tells the third and fifth grade teachers not to fill in the “promoted to” blank on the report card until test scores come in. Still, a kid who failed the test has 3 weeks of summer school and a second chance to pass the test. A kid who failed by one or two points has a pretty good chance of passing it the second time.

By DB

June 13, 2005 11:50 AM | Link to this

What do you guys thing about having standardized “unit” tests every few weeks throughout the year to be averaged?

Just wondering?

By DB

June 13, 2005 12:25 PM | Link to this

I thought the tests were easy, but I wanted to see how it is for a kid, so I downloaded the sample tests from the site below, and gave them to my seven-year-old who just finished 1st grade in private school. Here are the scores:

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/curriculum/testing/crct.asp

1st Grade Mathematics Printout: 100% 2nd Grade Mathematics Online: 100% 2nd Grade Reading Printout: 100% 3rd Grade Reading Printout: 100%

Silvia: As for the reading passage from “Fredericks Alligator”, the answer for how the teacher most likely felt is surprised. It’s not really that bad of a question if you read the passage. As for the question about how Frederick felt, it is most likely(as the question asked) proud, but some kids may answer afraid simply because many kids are afraid of alligators, and there is not much textual evidence backing up how Frederick may have felt. If any are subjective, it’s that one. But, still, it’s a reasonable question.

Conclusion: I would be absolutely disgusted with myself as a parent if my kids couldn’t pass these terribly easy tests! These tests represent that absolute minimum any kid should have at these ages. Does anyone know what percentage a kid must score in order to pass? I would think you should fail if you get any less than 90% on them!

Even with the tests, I can’t believe how little is expected of the kids today!