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
Second Generation Teacher
February 27th, 2010
2:54 pm
Not sure if I can post an image. This is an image my son drew in first grade (last year). He suffered horrible anxiety about the CRCT. The note is from his grandmother (a retired teacher) to me, a 20 year teacher.
J was drawing a picture of a frog and he had a sad mouth. I asked him why? He said that the frog had put the wrong answer on his test. I asked him if he could draw it for me. He drew a piece of paper by the frog’s hand and put A, B, C, and drew circles next to the letters. Above it he wrote,”What is this animal?” He said the answer is “A”, but the frog bubbled in B.
J is in first grade and what does that tell you is being emphasized in his grade? Maybe standardized testing? I didn’t even know what a test was when I was in first grade…or the word “bubble.” It just described gum.
ScienceTeacher671
February 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
My inner conspiracy theorist still wonders who is profiting from all these state tests, and if they are related to someone in state government.
Happy Teacher
February 27th, 2010
3:43 pm
Fascinating, albeit brief, look at what makes a great teacher for this generation of scholars:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/secrets-americas-greatest-teachers-9961455
It Amazes Me
February 27th, 2010
5:04 pm
The lack of common sense is what has doomed education in America: scripted curriculums, politically correct textbooks, kumbaya classroom management requirements, constant testing, NCLB, micromanaging administrators, etc, etc.
Parent to 3
March 2nd, 2010
7:55 am
I’ve read the vast majority of the prior comments and would just like to add that I am totally behind ditching the CRCT for grades 1 and 2 (and possibly 4 and 6). I agree with previous posters that the CRCT test in those grades serves no purpose; no one is retained and the “pass”/”proficiency” cut-off is so ridiculously low (i.e., 41% correct… come on!!!) that involved parents are hip to the fact that the test is bogus and costly.
That said, the reduction in learning time is probably the most costly as the “teach to the test” period continues. My 2nd grader brought home her 3rd CRCT test prep package yesterday. It was so stupid (I really can’t think of another word to encapsulate how dumb the questions were) that I told her to not even bother filling it out. After all, we have standards based grading and homework doesn’t count. (The county opened that can of worms, not I.) Anyway, as she was putting it back in her notebook, I noticed one question that gave me hope. It actually asked for her to solve $10 minus $3.79. I was encouraged… until I noticed that not only were 2 of the three answers totally improbable, but that the prep guide had also illustrated the correct answer in dollars and cents just in case the kid didn’t feel like doing a subtraction problem.
If we LOWER the bar, the kids will meet that. Sheesh!
d2
March 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
To @d2 who made the comment about looking in the mirror. I am proud of who I am, so quit bashing teachers. Oh I am not a teacher but I support them 100%. So before you begin bashing teachers or talking how slack they will be if they eliminate the CRCT, thank them for the abilities they have enhanced in your life. Teaching is a noble profession. To those who think the CRCT is easy look at it in the eyes of a first grader. I dare any average person to pass the 8th grade CRCT or the History EOCT test. The CRCT is out to trick what you know and now what you know. The passing rate is low, because the test is difficult. Teachers are given standards called the GPS. They are required to teach them whether they have a CRCT or not. The sad thing it the Standards change everytime there is a new Governor and Education chief. The books change to as well as the alignment. Testing 1 and 2 graders is the dumbest thing I have heard of—well besides Kathy Cox.
Teaching for Tomorrow
March 8th, 2010
5:47 pm
This is great! I taught first grade for 7 years and I, now, have a daughter in first grade and I have always wondered why our first graders are being tested. These children are not ready for such testing. I remember a couple of years when I had children who refused to take the test or try their best. They would fall asleep during testing and I would have to continuously wake them and I had some who thought it was a game of who could make the prettiest designs with the bubbles on their tests. They were explained how to bubble, but they made a choice to not do what was asked of them.This is not only true in first grade, but I have taught grades 4-6, as well, and they have been caught doing EXACTLY the same thing. It is frustrating, as a teacher, to be blamed for the test scores of children who are so young and do not understand the meaning of the test results and those who are old enough to understand, but could care less. Something has to be done, because this type of testing has become a joke to many students. I am glad that the state of Georgia is taking a step in the right direction!
We should trust teachers to teach, but the problem is that many can’t because we have students who are only there because they are made to be there. So since they are miserable, they are going to make everyone around them miserable. This costs students a chance to learn and teachers a chance to teach. I can not teach when a child is standing up in his desk screaming “NOOOOO, I wont sit down!” I have seen one teacher go through this during this school year. He is sent to the office, but nothing is done. Nobody has the backbone to put him out so that the class can move on. He does this everyday and no one cares until the class CRCT scores come back and the children have failed. It is not the teacher’s fault! She could not teach and no one cared, until NOW! When are we going to make parents and students accountable. Teachers are held accountable, but when will students and parents be held to the same standards. If the student does not care, then how can I care, as a teacher. If a parent does not care and thinks that it is all the teacher’s job, then there will definately be a problem in the end.
anonymous12
March 11th, 2010
7:51 pm
RE: Teaching for Tomorrow
I totally agree with you! Students and parents need to be held accountable, too. One of the reason Japan’s education system is so much higher than ours is that they teach to the students who WANT to learn. They don’t waste time with behavior issues and students who refuse to do anything.
Chloe
April 4th, 2010
5:42 pm
I do not think this is a good idea. Because how will we know that vour kids have leared all they need to know for 3rd grade. Why can’t all students just test online is better and most kids would love that. that will also get them a little more excited about testing.
Teachasa2ndCareer
May 5th, 2010
11:02 pm
Before standardized testing, teachers still knew what their students were ready for. I do like the standards because it gives me a foundation and then it is up to me to move beyond that foundation as well. Teachers still assessed the students without this test. Take “us” (i.e. early 40s & up) for example are performing and enjoying success in our careers and did not have to take these type of tests until the famous ACT or SAT before college. Why is it that students I feel are more likely to drop out now then in the 80s? I loved school and my no nonsense, non-graduated high school parents didn’t take no stuff. There was not even an ounce of doubt that we would attend and graduate from high school. All 5 of us did and 3 completed college. Parents, take your stand with your children because I did before I became a teacher, I do now that I am a teacher, and I will continue to do so. There are no excuses.
wanda
May 17th, 2010
6:30 pm
I dread the CRCT. My children do very well in school. I don’t understand why they have to pass this standardized test to pass to the next grade. So you telling me, you get all A’s throughtout the entire school year and not pass the CRCT by one point. YOU CAN NOT PASS GO!!!!! This CRCT thing sucks. It should be eliminated. Test the teachers>> see if they pass it>>