Results of Georgia’s most recent admission of the CRCT has recently garnered major attention from both parents and the press. With 40% of students possibly denied promotion, the validity of these tests and the new Georgia Performance Standards are currently in question. As a veteran educator, I feel as though clarification may be needed.
The mandate of our state's public school system is that we will lead the nation in school improvement. The Georgia Performance Standards and the increased rigor of state mandated standardized tests are a step in that direction.
The process of making education in Georgia both rigorous and relevant is painstaking to say the least. The flawed thinking that what has been done in the past will work in the future seems to be dominate in too many homes and too many news articles.
To lead the nation in school improvement does not necessarily mean that every student will pass state tests or that every parent will be happy with test results. Summer school is a small price to pay for remediation. The goal of education is learning, not promotion or a score that will please parents and press.
The rigorous math standards and relevant CRCT assessments promote the critical thinking skills essential for higher SAT results and true college preparedness that too many Georgia students lack and desperately need. Without highlighting the areas for student growth and holding students, as well as teachers and school systems accountable, Georgia will remain at the bottom of the nation in regards to standardized test scores. Georgia will remain one step behind the rest of our nation.
The mandate of our state's public school system is that we will lead the nation in school improvement. The Georgia Performance Standards and the increased rigor of state mandated standardized tests are a step in that direction.
The process of making education in Georgia both rigorous and relevant is painstaking to say the least. The flawed thinking that what has been done in the past will work in the future seems to be dominate in too many homes and too many news articles.
To lead the nation in school improvement does not necessarily mean that every student will pass state tests or that every parent will be happy with test results. Summer school is a small price to pay for remediation. The goal of education is learning, not promotion or a score that will please parents and press.
The rigorous math standards and relevant CRCT assessments promote the critical thinking skills essential for higher SAT results and true college preparedness that too many Georgia students lack and desperately need. Without highlighting the areas for student growth and holding students, as well as teachers and school systems accountable, Georgia will remain at the bottom of the nation in regards to standardized test scores. Georgia will remain one step behind the rest of our nation.
3 comments:
The sad thing is that for the 8th grade math students, it only took them getting 32 questions out of the 70 questions asked to receive a score of 800. When 40% of those students cannot do that, there is a problem - especially when 30 of those questions pertained to algebra.
I believe that this is more of a reflection on on the system rather than the student. Were we more intelligent than our new millenium counterparts? In some ways yes, but in many ways no. We keep reinventing the wheel in order to keep up with Jones and are damaging generations of children in the process.
If you think this is scary, wait until this group's high school graduation test scores come back in 11th grade...or better yet, wait until they are seniors and haven't met the 4 year math credit requirement. *sigh*
I agree with you 100% We were not more intelligent than our current students. Honestly, I would say the opposite is true. They have more access to information and knowledge. The low results are indicative of a system problem. I think that, however, the students can master the material and succeed on an assessment of the material if the means for making them success are present. As for the 11th grade scores of these eighth graders... lol... neither of us will be around to see that come to pass...
Im glad to see you back as well.
:)
L
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