I’m with catlady & Carla – the ITBS is the Iowa Test of BASIC SKILLS – which basic skills are we not teaching in Georgia? Why not?

And if a child passes the CRCT, shouldn’t parents be assured that their child has mastered at least the BASIC skills appropriate for his/her grade level? Anything else is deceitful, IMO.

A fact in Fulton County is that on the ITBS scores while almost all schools have dropped in every area the decrease is not uniform. Some have dropped more than others and only 1 school, Fulton Science Academy (FSA), has shown year-over-year increases in all subjects. This school is now the top performer in Fulton County and since 2004 their ITBS scores in 8th grade math have increased 20%. It is also a fact that our students ITBS scores drop in Math between 5th grade and 8th grade. This unexplained drop is over 15 points. So our children go from being in the 80th percentile nationally into the 60’s.or lower.

Our schools and the DOE need to face facts. They are failing our kids at a time when knowledge is most needed to compete nationally and internationally. They are failing all of our kids and in Fulton County that means 90,000 children. I mean all of our kids. Not everyone needs or wants to go to college. But every child needs to be able to read, write, and do basic math. These are basic life skills our children must have to succeed at any job and in life. We need to move beyond spin and wishful thinking, face the facts, and do what is right by our children and that is provide a good solid education for all.