DEL.ICIO.USGEORGIA'S CRCT
Audit: Math tests that students failed were not flawed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
An independent audit of Georgia’s math tests has found that questions on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test strongly matched what the state says students should learn, supporting the state’s position that defective exams did not contribute to high failure rates.
The review was planned before results released in May showed that about 38 percent of eighth-graders had failed the state math exam. The study backs Georgia schools Superintendent Kathy Cox’s long-standing position that students struggled because the exams were based on a new and more rigorous math curriculum.
The Georgia Department of Education is scheduled Tuesday to release the audit, which was conducted on the state’s math and science exams to comply with federal testing mandates. Students in third through eighth grade take the tests annually.
The audit provided little consolation to parents whose children failed the exams.
“Sure the test and curriculum match, but how can it be that nearly 40 percent of the kids who took the test just didn’t get it?” said Wendy Ashabranner of Fayetteville, whose son failed the eighth-grade math test. “What if the curriculum is inadequate? What if it wasn’t taught the right way? There are more questions that must be answered.”
Christopher Domaleski, an associate superintendent for the Georgia Department of Education, said the test was sound and “provided accurate information about student performance.” The results were not out of line with how Georgia students have performed on national math exams, he said.
The state drastically changed the way students learn math after years of criticism that the old curriculum was too weak. Schools now use an integrated approach, which weaves elements of algebra, geometry and statistics into a single math class, rather than teaching each separately. Under this new math, middle school students study algebra previously taught in high school.
Cox and other state education officials said students need the new math lessons, which are tougher, so they will be better prepared for college and work. They predicted math scores will increase as students and teachers get used to the more rigorous expectations. Teachers continue to receive training on the new material.
The revised math curriculum started with sixth grade in 2005 and is being phased in annually. The 2007-08 school year was the first time eighth-grade teachers taught the new math. The curriculum moved to ninth grade this school year.
The audit described the alignment between the CRCT and math learning standards as “excellent” and said the state has “clear expectations” for its exams.
Alignment studies are required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates states to test students annually and says these exams must be aligned with each state’s learning goals.
Georgia, which paid about $62,000 for the latest study, has hired edCount LLC to conduct similar studies for other tests. The company has provided similar services to other states, and its president, Ellen Forte, has consulted for the U.S. Department of Education.
The state uses independent audits and in-house reviews to make sure exams are aligned, Domaleski said.
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Comments
By Chase
Oct 22, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
What is flawed are the parents that do not invest in the school and spend time with the children and expect the teachers to do it all, as mom, dad, mentor, and coach thier children. but the teachers have blame in teaching to the weakest link and not failing those that do not make it becuase of political correctness. When was the last time you read to your child. When was the last time you told your child, to drop the remote and read a book.
By Math Mom
Sep 24, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Most did not think the CRCT math tests were flawed (unlike the SS). This shows what the teachers have said all along. The curriculum is confusing and difficult to teach and they were forced into the program without adequate training and resources. The parents can't help struggling students because there is either NO textbook or a very poor quality textbook.
The thought that the State is continuing to force march the 9th graders down a path marked by such high levels of failure is very troubling. If "integrated" high school math courses are so great why did NC drop the curriculum? If the integrated math courses will produce such high achievement why are the private schools still teaching Geometry/Algebra II/ Calculus?
By w00die
Sep 24, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this
You cannot teach a student who will not learn, with the keyword 'will' being most important. The students are not able to meet the desires of the school system because we do not know how to control them or teach them. As far as the high failure rate is concerned, it serves no ones best interest to label students as failures. 'No child left behind' is a contradiction when shown we obviously left 40% of these students behind. As a parent I struggled many years to instill educational values into my children and yet I failed because one just wanted to socialize and the other fell into the drug culture. All of this occurred during school hours.
By Steve
Sep 23, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Why is it that two years ago this math curriculum was taught to AP and Gifted classes for high school classes. Then last year we force every student to learn Algebra. These students are not prepared mentally to accept Algebra concepts, add with it the lack of homework requirements these days, there is no practice at home, expect the same results next year!
By Steve
Sep 23, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Why is it that two years ago this math curriculum was taught to AP and Gifted classes for high school classes. Then last year we force every student to learn Algebra. These students are not prepared mentally to accept Algebra concepts, add with it the lack of homework requirements these days, there is no practice at home, expect the same results next year!
By Steve
Sep 23, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Why is it that two years ago this math curriculum was taught to AP and Gifted classes for high school classes. Then last year we force every student to learn Algebra. These students are not prepared mentally to accept Algebra concepts, add with it the lack of homework requirements these days, there is no practice at home, expect the same results next year!
By Catherine
Sep 23, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this
Now maybe someone will wake up and recognize that it's our own fault that this country's students do so poorly on worldwide comparisons.
By wjftsf
Sep 23, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
The auditors who missed $360M of DOT obligations but were sure they had actually saved the State almost $1B in contracts probably passed the old test.
By Mortician48
Sep 23, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
The auditors are correct; what the children SHOULD BE LEARNING........The academics vary from county to county. What's wrong with this picture? Dekalb County Middle School Curriculum is totally different than that of Duluth Middle School. What's going on Kathy Cox???
By Joe
Sep 23, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
-40% of Georgiaýs 8th grade students (about 50,000) failed the Math portion of the CRCT,
-Less than 30% of 6th and 7th graders passed the Social Studies portion of the CRCT (70 to 80 percent of sixth- and seventh-graders failed the Social Studies exam).
-Georgia ranks near the bottom in SAT scores (47th)
No problems...we can blame illegal immigrants, voucher programs, teachers, hard tests, foreign language and art classes, poor curricula, TV shows, Rap music, China, long summers, and global warming.
Solutions:
-To teach just one subject: English.
No more Math, Sciences, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, and Art.
-To offer more athletics programs...more time practicing and watching sports!!!
-No homework assignments
-Longer summers
Predictions for 2009-2012:
-Georgia will ranks 45-50th in SAT scores
-More great athletes for NFL, MLB, MLS, and Olympic Games
-Scientifics and engineers deficit
-Doctors and nurses deficit
-More Visas for foreign scientifics, engineers, doctors, and nurses.
-More poverty
-More government help for the poor
No problemsýwe will do our best!
We are the best!
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