Sunday, August 26, 2001

CRCT Scores on the Rise,

Reading Category Sees Dramatic Increases

Scores from the spring 2001 Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests indicate that more Fayette students are exceeding the performance standard for their grade levels than compared to last year's test results.

The second annual administration of the CRCT was given to students in grades four, six and eight during the weeks of April 16-May 4. Students took the tests in the content areas of reading, English/language arts and mathematics.

Based on the performance standards set by Georgia educators after the first administration in spring 2000, student scores are placed in one of three categories for each content area test: does not meet standard, meets standards and exceeds standard. These standards represent what Georgia educators expect students to know and be able to do at the end of the school year with respect to the Georgia Quality Core Curriculum.

Across the board, Fayette's scores show a decrease in the "does not meet standards" category (except in fourth grade English/language arts, where the score remains at 13 percent) and an increase in students who are performing at the "meets standard" and "exceeds standard" categories. The most dramatic improvement was seen in the reading portion of the test. Scores in "exceeds standard" increased by seven points in both fourth and sixth grade, while eighth grade saw an increase of 15 points.

Overall in each grade level, the majority of students taking the test scored in "exceeds standard" for reading and in "meets standard" for English/language arts and mathematics.

"Our scores show that Fayette's teachers are following the state's curriculum pretty closely," said Stuart Bennett, assistant superintendent of curriculum. "While we are pleased that our scores are on the rise, the test also shows us areas where we need to improve. We will continue to seek ways to help our students increase their performance levels."

In comparison to Georgia's percentages, the school system consistently had more students scoring in the "meets standards" and "exceeds standards" categories for all subject areas and grade levels. As with Fayette's scores,
the state's results also indicate that reading was the strongest subject area in this administration of the CRCT.

"When our students learn how to read, they become more comfortable and proficient in their other subjects because they can read the material. These scores show the continuing success of previous reform efforts such as the introduction of the Reading First program and the revision of the state's curriculum to make it more solid and rigorous," says state Superintendent of Schools Linda C. Schrenko.

To see the scores for your child's school, visit the Board of Education Web site, http://www.fcboe.org.

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