1. GEORGIA’S CRITERION-REFERENCED COMPETENCY TESTS (CRCT) Questions and Answers for Parents of Georgia Students February 11, 2009 Presented by: MCES

2. Georgia CRCT Kathy Cox, Georgia’s State School Superintendent has stated, “WE WILL LEAD THE NATION IN IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT!”

3. What are the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests or CRCT? The CRCT are state-mandated achievement tests for students in grades 1 through 8 that cover the subject areas of Reading, English/Language Arts, and Mathematics. Students in grades 3 through 8 are also required to take the CRCT in Science and Social Studies.

4. What is the purpose of the CRCT? The CRCT measure how well a student has learned the knowledge and skills in the state curriculum. The purpose of the tests is: (1) to ensure students are learning; and (2) to provide data to teachers, schools, and school districts to make better instructional decisions. The tests also serve as an accountability measure and are part of the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

5. When do students take the CRCT? Tuesday, April 14 - 24 Reading, Language Arts/English, & Math Science Social Studies

6. What scores do students get on the CRCT? Georgia’s statewide curriculum, known as the Georgia Performance Standards, sets specific academic standards or expectations for all students in Georgia’s public schools. The CRCT measure how well a student has learned the knowledge and skills covered by the curriculum for their grade level. Students are not compared to each other but are measured on their achievement in meeting the standards.

7. Student scores are reported according o three performance levels: Does Not Meet Expectations Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations.

8. What does all of this mean for our kids?

9. Performance Levels: Material covered is based on Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). Does Not Meet Below 800 Meets Standard 800 – 849 Exceeds 850 or higher

10. Lexile Scale Starting in the spring of 2006, performance on the reading portion of the CRCT will be linked to the Lexile scale, a national reading measure. For more information about the Lexile scale and resources to help you select literature for your child, visit www.lexile.com.

11. How are test results used? CRCT results provide data about the academic achievement of students, classes, schools, school systems, and the state. This information is used to identify individual student strengths and weaknesses and to measure the quality of education throughout Georgia.

12. Third Grade Students Third grade students are required to perform at grade level on the reading portion of the CRCT in order to be considered for promotion to the next grade. Grade level performance means that the student achieved a score in Performance Level 2 (Meets Expectations) or higher.

13. Fifth grade students are required to perform at grade level on the reading and math portion of the CRCT in order to be considered for promotion to the next grade. Grade level performance means that the student achieved a score in Performance level 2 (Meets Expectations) or higher.

14. Do students with disabilities or students with limited English proficiency have to take the CRCT? Yes! State rules, the federal requirements of No Child Left Behind, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandate that all students participate in the state assessment program. All students are tested in all content areas of the CRCT, and they are tested on grade level.

15. Accommodations Certain accommodations are allowed on all state assessments when required. This is to be determined in the students Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students with limited English proficiency who are enrolling in a U.S. school for the first time may receive a one-year deferment from content areas assessments other than mathematics. Student must be eligible for English language services based on their limited proficiency.

16. What is the Georgia Online Assessment System? The Georgia Online Assessment System is a collection of test questions for grades 1 through 8 in the five subject areas. www.eaglets.org http://regionf.georgiaoas.org

17. Will the CRCT change with the new statewide curriculum? Testing in Georgia has changed with the state’s implementation of a new statewide curriculum called the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). The CRCT measure how well students have mastered the academic standards or expectations set forth in the statewide curriculum. As the new GPS has been implemented in classrooms across the state, the CRCT has changed on the same schedule to consistently reflect the curriculum that was taught to students.

18. Where can I find out more about the CRCT? Talk with your child’s teacher, school principal, or school test coordinator.