House bill would eliminate CRCTs in first and second grade. Hurrah or Hurrumph?
A few weeks ago, I ran into state Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (D-Atlanta) at Kroger and she told me about her bill to end mandatory CRCT testing in the early grades. House Bill 1132 has been introduced and it eliminates mandatory criterion-referenced competency tests in grades one and two.
The bill has the wide support of education groups that question the efficacy and point of high-stakes testing in first and second grades.
“This is in line with recommendations of most national professional organizations that serve young children. And it is also more consistent with national trends. Only one state also tests in grade 1. Six test grade 2 — but some states count a 5-minute reading test in that total,” says early child education professor Caitlin McMunn Dooley of Georgia State University
“The general consensus of professionals in education is that large-scale, standardized tests are inappropriate for children prior to grade 3. This is especially true in Georgia, where the test takes 110-165 minutes per day of testing. This is a very long time for 6-year-olds to sit, much less take a test. The national average of the few states that do have testing at these grade levels (total of six) is more than an hour less than Georgia,” says Dooley.
It should go to committee next week Another bill in play is state Sen. Tommie Williams’ Senate Bill 352, which is a far broader legislation that essentially rewrites testing in Georgia from top to bottom. While the bill has excellent aims, it seems to have too many ambitions and moving parts to pass this session. Perhaps, it will be stripped down to a simpler bill that focuses only on the elimination of the CRCT in the early grades.
Now, the bill states:
To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the “Quality Basic Education Act,” so as to require the State Board of Education to include a growth model as a primary factor in its calculation of adequate yearly growth; to assign annual individual school ratings for each public school in this state for academic performance on designated tests; to establish thresholds for measurement of performance; to provide for criteria for school ratings; to provide for bonuses to schools based on appropriations; to provide for consequences; to provide for transmission of data from the Department of Education; to provide for audit exceptions for failure to timely provide such data; to eliminate criterion-referenced competency tests in grades one and two; to replace the Georgia High School Graduation Test with end-of-course assessments for graduation purposes beginning in the 2010-2011 school year; to revise provisions for purposes of conformity; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Take a look at the bills and let me know what you think. I think it’s a great idea.
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111 comments Add your comment
Reality
February 26th, 2010
3:40 pm
what’s right for kids:
Students in any grade, including 1 and 2, have a curriculum to learn. Fine with me if they learn it by playing or whatever because of their age group. The problem is when those students that DON’T learn are passed on to the next grade level. Then, those students become even more lost. Is this FAIR to the students?
There DOES need to be some sort of gate (CRCT if you will) to ensure that the student has learned the curriculum before moving on. It is simply a reality.
And, even in this blog thread, there has already been people that have said things such as “let’s do away with the CRCT in middle school” and “let’s do away with the HSGT”. If we do away with it because of _____ in 1 and 2 grade, there are always excuses to do away with it in other grades.
Also, I STRONGLY feel that these test should not at all be a measure of the teacher. They are measures of student knowledge, period. An individual teacher does not control a parent that abuses their child (mental, physical, etc.), or if the child eats properly, or if the child does their homework, or …… One could be the best teacher in the world and yet have students that don’t learn – there are just too many other variables.
rita
February 26th, 2010
3:47 pm
At some point systems have to stop all this testing and allow teachers to teach. Besides the required state tests local system tests are constantly given to supposely use in teaching children but when does a teacher have time to study the results because they are preparing for the next test, which are beginning to be used more and more for teacher evaluations. Oh yes, I forgot, such constant testing creates and maintaines numeous testing positions that could be used to hire more teachers to teach in a reduced classroom.
Parent of 1st Grader
February 26th, 2010
3:57 pm
I agree that first and second graders should not take the CRCT. My child will be taking the test in April. I am irritated by this because they require so much from these children at such a young age.I believe this pressure to pass this test is to overwhelming for these kids at this age. My child is already worried about passing the test in order to get to the first grade. Taking tests while nervous is never a good thing and very stressful. They should not have to worry about this at this time.
high school teacher
February 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
What a great way to save money! I wish that we could eliminate the EOCT’s as well (there are more of them, so they would save more). Seriously, is there really a need for students to take two sets of standardized tests in any grade level?
Hey, it's Enrico Pallazzo!
February 26th, 2010
4:13 pm
Even if a student fails to pass the CRCT in the 1st or 2nd grade, many parents insist that the student be promoted to the next grade. So those that claim that the CRCT will prevent children from being below grade level are dreaming.
If passage of these tests was required to move up a grade, no exceptions, then we may reduce the number of children who are below grade level. Of course, then we will have 14 year olds still in elementary school, but at least they will be in the correct grade for their academic level.
matt
February 26th, 2010
4:14 pm
Without CRT testing you would not be able to determine students being eligible for gifted programs. That will just cause more parents to pull kids out of public schools for private schools. This is a bad idea in a state with such historically mediocre schools.
me
February 26th, 2010
4:16 pm
Get rid of the tests and get rid of tenure. Put in a real method to evaluate teachers and administrators based on several relevant criteria that does not include these idiotic tests.Then you might see some improvement.
Mac
February 26th, 2010
4:17 pm
matt — CRCT is not used to evaluate for Gifted. ITBS and another that escapes my memory at the moment are used to place kids in Gifted.
Mac
February 26th, 2010
4:19 pm
In compliance with Georgia Department of Education Rule 160-4-2.38, evaluation data for all students referred is gathered in four areas, Mental Ability, Achievement, Creativity, and Motivation. To ensure equal access to gifted education services, evaluation measures for all students* are as follows:
Mental Ability – Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
Achievement – Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS, grades K-8)
Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED, grades 9-12)
Creativity – Group Inventory for Finding creative Talent (GIFT, grades K – 3,)
Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT, grades 4-12)
Motivation - Hawthorne Gifted Evaluation Scale (GES-2, grades K-3)
Children’s Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (CAIMI, grades 4-5)
Grade Point Average (GPA, >Top 10%, grades 6-12)
decaturparent
February 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
Maureen, re your 1:40 post – you know the answer to this… why don’t you do a blog about it…..????
NWEA MAP testing is the answer to all of these woes. It takes only about 40 minutes … it compares kids and the school district to a national norm rather than just GA. It’s taken on a computer so there’s no chance to “erase” answers. It’s taken three times a year so progress can be measured and acted upon while a teacher still has the kids in his/her class rather than in the summer after school has let out. The entire nature of it is far lower pressure than the CRCT.
It follows the child and measures their growth over the year rather than comparing one group of kids one year to an entirely different group of kids the next year. Growth targets can be set for high achievers as well as the lowest of the low achievers… and EVERYONE is expected to grow, regardless of how well or poorly they are performing at the beginning of the school year.
It’s so easy… if folks would just take a look at this – it would be world’s better than the ridiculous CRCT. We use it and.. it’s not perfect all the time, but it’s world’s better than the CRCT.
anonymous12
February 26th, 2010
4:31 pm
Matt- gifted students are determined by ITBS test scores not the CRCT.
decaturparent
February 26th, 2010
4:32 pm
Matt, the CRCT is not used for gifted testing….. nor should it ever be used. It is too low quality of a test.
decaturparent
February 26th, 2010
4:32 pm
Maureen, my post is stuck in your filter.. pls get it. Thanks!
Hank Harris
February 26th, 2010
4:34 pm
Maureen,
You dropped the ball on this one. There is already a bill that is doing that. It is SB352 and was heard in committee a few weeks ago.
Hank
anonymous12
February 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
I am a teacher and I do agree that for 1st and 2nd grade there does need to be a way to measure student’s progress/achievement but the CRCT is not an accurate way to do this. It is unreasonable to expect 6-8 year olds to sit still and be quite for over 3 hours. Many of these children cannot sit still for more than 10 minutes.
Maureen Downey
February 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
Hank, SB 352 is a far broader bill that does include the elimination of CRCTs in early grades. It seems to predicate the elimination of the CRCTs on some of these other elements, which don’t seem likely this session as they are fairly complex. It seems to me to be simpler to start with a single-focus bill than one with this many ambitions and moving parts.
But you make a good point so I have added the information about Sen. Williams’ SB 352 to the blog entry.
1st grade teacher
February 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
I hate the length of the CRCT and some of the ridiculous questions; however, you cannot wait until third grade to expose students to standardized testing. You also can not wait until third grade to teach test taking skills. Waiting would gaurantee an increased failure rate at the third grade level. Like it or not some type of standardized testing is needed. The CRCT may not be the best one, but at least it is some measure and practice for the students. It’s better than absolutely nothing.
RJ
February 26th, 2010
5:42 pm
@Mac, the gifted test uses the Stanford Achievement Test.
RJ
February 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
Okay, that didn’t sound right. Let me try again… The Stanford 9 is used to test students for the gifted program. Students must score in the 99th percentile. ITBS scores are also used. CRCT is not an indicator of giftedness. Georgia State’s Saturday School for Scholars doesn’t even list the CRCT as an acceptable test for entrance into that program.
RJ
February 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
One more thing, I get sooo sick of people saying that our schools are so inferior. First, not all schools are equal. There are some outstanding public schools in this state. I also doubt this supposed ranking we have as 48th in the country. I’ve taught kids from many other states and I can tell you that I’ve yet to meet a student eons ahead of everyone else.
catlady
February 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
I am the first to say I hate the CRCTs. I don’t think they are valid in any way. HOWEVER, we need some measure to show that kids aren’t achieving what they are being taught. We have too many parents who “didn’t know” their child was behind when they hit 3rd grade.
On a practical note, the CRCT results are used to identify who need additional help.
BehindEnemyLines
February 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
Oh yes, let’s eliminate the tests. That way we can just social promote ‘em & pretend there’s actually competent work being done instead of having the failures illustrated as soon as possible. That’ll make everyone feel better I’m sure and be quickly trumpeted as schools having failed fewer tests.
catlady
February 26th, 2010
5:56 pm
RJ–maybe the brightest kids don’t move much! Stability is an important part of achievement.
catlady
February 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
Behind: we promote them anyway, no matter how poor their scores, no matter how low their grades (even with our generous, ever-forgiving grading system)
Nona
February 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
I’d be interested to know if anybody has any anecdotal evidence noting that their child’s education has improved since the CRCT and NCLB were implemented. Millions and millions of children are out there. Has anyone heard a single story of parents and/or public saying, “Wow! Our kids are learning so much more and getting a significantly better education now that CRCTs and NCLB were put into place!”
Didn’t think so.
Actually, it seems to me that kids learned more and were getting better educations when there was just an achievement test every year. And by the way, tons and tons of research validate that observation. I’ve been trying for months to find a single study that shows standardized tests improve learning and haven’t found one. There are, however, tons of studies that show these tests don’t improve learning. There are also tons of studies showing how to raise test scores, even if the tests don’t improve learning. What, exactly, is the point of THAT?
I’m all for teacher accountability. But the first priority is student learning, not teacher accountability. If a student is learning, the teacher is doing his job. But CRCTs and the other high stakes tests do NOT improve learning. They are more akin to a standardized witch hunt for “bad” teachers than an honest inquiry into whether students have learned anything beyond isolated, context-free facts.
SE GA Teacher
February 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
As the teacher of some of the brightest, most precocious second graders you could ever find, I am finding myself worrying if my students will exceed on the CRCT. Hey, it’s not just passing anymore. If you are not EIP, you better exceed. One of the reasons the first and second CRCT are ridiculous tests is that they are read to the students, with the exception being the reading passages in second grade. The brighter students are bored that they have to wait for everyone to answer the easy questions, and the lower students feel they need to hurry to catch up with everyone else.
I have taught since 1979 and have seen the CRT come and go in the early 1990’s, and I hope before I retire at the end of this year, I see the CRCT go far, far away. What a joke of a test. Has anyone talked about the percent needed to pass? Another joke.
I love teaching and have had an unbelievable experience, but I just hate what is happening to education today.
BW
February 26th, 2010
6:14 pm
Our educational woes go much deeper than the CRCT or any other testing. Our apathetic society has become a major issue. As an educator for 29 years,I am deeply concerned about the publics attitude toward education. Educators are becoming a scapegoat for the problems of our society and there has to be a fundamental change in order for these woes to be solved. Educational reform is just as important as health care!
I do not mind accountability, but hold me accountable for the issues that I can control.
T squared
February 26th, 2010
6:42 pm
I totally support this bill. Students in 1st and/or 2nd grade do not have the mental stamina to actually portray thier knowledge. Also, the state curriculm is not aligned with the testing. I am a teacher and am tired of being held accountable for “raising” the majority of my students. Here’s an idea…actually hold the parents accountable. Teachers can’t teach the material or remediate as necessary due to having to cover so much content in a relatively short amount of time.
In addition, most people influencing the legislation have never been in a classroom, other than a photo opportunity.
People that think that terminating the CRCT would promote students that are not competent; however, that is exactly what is taking place currently. Also, the CRCT is a minimum of expectations.
Children need a chance to be children and schools have a great opportunity to build their education and love of learning in a fun way that will build memories and impact their lives in a positive manner. Remember, CRCT was not mandated when my generation was being educated yet produced better results.
T squared
February 26th, 2010
6:43 pm
BW: So true!
SE GA Teacher
February 26th, 2010
7:12 pm
Why are you ignoring my comments from an hour ago?
SE GA Teacher
February 26th, 2010
7:17 pm
Oh, I figured this one out on my own. The AJC found out I’m a Republican!!! Horrors!!!!
catlady
February 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
What about standards based report cards?
Rev. Mrs. Vidalia Toombs
February 26th, 2010
7:48 pm
Celebration: You would be much more powerful if you wouldn’t allow your personalities to argue among themselves. But, you volume does amaze (truly) me. Keep up the good work! Your friend, Vidie
anonymous12
February 26th, 2010
8:20 pm
catlady- It is extremely hard to get a child held back in school. Even if the child is far below grade level and the teacher has a lot of documentation the parents can still refuse to have their child held back. This happens a lot. Lawmakers have made it extremely difficult for teachers to get help for students who really need it.
anonymous12
February 26th, 2010
8:23 pm
RJ- In Georgia I think it depends on what school district you are in. I grew up in Cobb County and I was surprised when I found out that GA was ranked so low in education. Then I went to college and met people from other parts of the state and realized why we are so low.
teachparent
February 26th, 2010
9:32 pm
Students in Dekalb are given Benchmark tests at the beginning and end of every unit in Language Arts and Math. These units incoporate the standards to be taught. Charles, if you want to know exactly where your child is succeeding or having difficulties, you can look at these tests item by item. These are not subjective tests so the teacher has no influence.
The CRCT is a horrible indicator of a child’s functioning. Parents, check out this test carefully before supporting it.
thankateacher
February 26th, 2010
10:24 pm
Can we just get rid of the CRCT in all grades and find a better way to measure student achievement? My district uses way too many benchmark tests and the students are sick of them. It is becoming difficult to get fired up about teaching these days. Cathy Cox, are you listening to those that matter, parents and teachers (as well as the children)?
By the way, look at how much money goes to overpaid Central Office employees. Sickening.
SE GA Teacher
February 26th, 2010
10:54 pm
Wow! My comments were allowed after a long interval. Thanks! Standards based report cards are not liked by any of the parents in our district, but the teachers are supposed to promote them. Why?? They really don’t make sense, and the teachers agree with the parents. It’s like whole language…parents and most teachers don’t like it, but somehow it slipped in the system.
BW
February 26th, 2010
11:08 pm
Senate Bill 352 has a key element…individual growth model and most importantly, common sense! That is measuring each child’s academic growth from August to May each year. This cookie cutter approach and expecting certain subgroups (NCLB) to keep up with other students is not working and won’t work! Having all students on grade level and passing the CRCT by 2014 is like expecting all realtors to sale all their vacant houses in the ATL area by 2014.
For the children
February 26th, 2010
11:21 pm
We should not be satisfied with education in Georgia until 110% of the students are above the national average in math.
ScienceTeacher671
February 26th, 2010
11:24 pm
How much will it cost to revise the tests to produce the individual growth model as required by SB 352/ HB1100?
Interesting
February 26th, 2010
11:34 pm
Having gone through school without high stakes testing, I developed a passion for learning. If I have one complaint about the CRCT/standardized test focus is that it removes the passion from students for learning. Teachers can be held accountable for instruction if the appropriate monitoring takes place within the school. Administrators can monitor and evaluate their classroom instruction, the grades of students, and even benchmark exams of their students (as most districts administer these). Rather than this endless finger pointing that is occuring, we need to look beyond the walls of our state and look at our nation as a whole. We do not value nor respect education in the manner it was 25+ years ago. Back then, we were not given the option to fail. We learned our history, culture, and work ethic first from home, then from school. We went to school prepared. We did not expect our teachers to supply us with materials. Were there some bad teachers then, of course, but there was not this complete bashing of teachers that is occuring now. Our children are growing up with a sense of entitlement to everything, that the adults are helping to feed. We need more adults involved in the school system. Our county has the biggest heart for helping the needy in other parts of the world, but we do not place that same energy into our own backyard. What is happening in schools is a by product of the breakdown of communites and families. Rather than bashing teachers and public education, volunteer your time in a school or mentor/tutor a child. Better than that, mentor an adult with children who you see could use the help.
Free Market Educator
February 27th, 2010
12:04 am
I say let the customers (parents) drive the testing. Drop the CRCT; it is redundant to the classroom testing done by the teacher and is a waste of tax payer’s money. Offer a nationally normed test (ITBS) only at the request of the parent. Their child’s progress is their responsibility. They should monitor weekly grades and help with homework. Then it would be obvious if their child needed a tutor. Use money saved from testing to attract/retain quality teachers that parents trust. If enough parents lodge legitimate complaints against a teacher, they should be fired. But, I’m living in a dream world. The only real solution is to repeal the compulsory school law and start over.
Seen it all
February 27th, 2010
3:54 am
I am ALL for eliminating the CRCT in grades 1 and 2. I have NO problem with assessing the students to determine their abilities in reading, English, and math. In fact, as some other posters have said, it does give both teachers, parents, and administration an indicator as to which students are above average and those that need extra assistance.
The problem with the CRCT for grades 1 and 2 is that the tests are IDENTICAL in length to those give to students in the middle school. Seventy problems for each reading, English/Language Arts, and math test are way too much. Two hours being forced to sit testing is way too long. In some schools those children can’t even leave to go to the bathroom until after the ending of the testing. We are talking about testing from 8:15ish in the morning until 11:00. This is too much for even middle school. We are talking about 6 year olds here.
If the CRCT was differentiated in length and time by grade level, the argument for me would be different. As my name implies, I have seen a lot. I have taught grades 1-8, in different capacities. I remember administering the ITBS and COGAT to a group of first graders over a 8 DAY PERIOD. Grueling to say the least.
Seen it all
February 27th, 2010
4:28 am
Hey, I lost a comment!!!
v racer
February 27th, 2010
6:04 am
Trust teachers to teach? Where have you been? Too many can’t or won’t do the job. If not standardized tests, then what measurement. inflated grades? Train the kids to take stress, our country will be better off for it.
Parent of Gifted Students
February 27th, 2010
8:39 am
Yes!!! drop the CRCT’s in 1/2nd grades! Drop the CRCT’s in 4 and 6th grades as well since no one pays any attention to these. And since no one is ever retained, why not drop the entire mess! Let’s measure students on a pre-post test format to show mastery of skills from that year. As a parent of three gifted students, the CRCT’s has never told me one thing about how my child is doing. Nor has their report cards. But, a conversation with a teacher, now that is priceless! Why are we so eager to discredit our professional educators and their ability to assess a student?
Just Wondering
February 27th, 2010
9:02 am
Since the Asians and Europeans are out performing our kids, why don’t we return to that style of teaching (and I do mean return). Our schools were changed over 100 years ago and progressed to turning students into good citizens rather than individual thinking intelligent individuals. We should learn from our friends across the oceans on how to educate our kids. Hold them and the parents accountable. If the kids aren’t prepared, they don’t pass. Not everyone is college material. Not everyone is cut out to be corporate management. Not everyone has those desires either. We should teach to the ability of the child, not the requirement of standardized tests. We are unique individuals and not all are headed in the same direction. Not everyone wants to learn either. There are those out there who prefer to live off the hard work of others and take the easy way out.
ScienceTeacher671
February 27th, 2010
9:24 am
We have standardized testing because children were graduating without basic skills.
Of course, now that we have standardized testing, we’re still graduating children even though they don’t have basic skills, and the CRCT is labeling children we know don’t have basic skills as “proficient”.
FulCoTeach
February 27th, 2010
11:55 am
ST671, You are correct; systems were then given the option of NOT administering nationally normed test (ITBS or Stanford) until 10th grade (PSAT), perhaps to hide the fact that CRCT is fatally flawed as an assessment of academic achievement?
And AMEN to the call to eliminate the GHSGTs!!! It’s already in HB1187 -get our state school board to set the schedule by that provision – an accelerated schedule, since the EOCTs are now firmly established!
103-15 (i)(1) The high school graduation test provided for in
103-16 subsection (a) of this Code section shall continue in
103-17 effect until all high school core subject end-of-course
103-18 assessments have been developed and implemented, at
103-19 which time the state board shall discontinue the test
103-20 according to a schedule to be determined by the state
103-21 board.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/1999_00/fulltext/hb1187.htm