What Is the CRCT?
The Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) is an outgrowth in Georgia in response to the national No Child Left Behind program started under the George W. Bush administration at the beginning of the 21st century. The national program set forth polices that included a more standardized educational approach to teaching. This led Georgia, among others states, to create a state standardized testing method that matched federal requirements.
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Identification
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The CRCT is a mandated educational performance test given by all Georgia school systems. The test is given yearly and is taken by all students who are in the first through eighth grades. The test is broken into five sections: Reading, language usage, math, science and social studies. Students in the first and second grades are exempt from the science and social studies portions.
History
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The CRCT was created out of an amendment to state law by the A+ Education Reform Act of 2000. The standardized test was given the goal of measuring how well Georgia students were gaining a required skill level for their grade in certain key areas.
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Testing
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The administering of the CRCT started in the spring term of 2000. In the first year of testing, it was given to fourth-, sixth- and eighth-graders to test for language use, reading and math skills. Science and social studies were added in spring 2002. The CRCT was also expanded to include all grades from third to eighth. Another assessment of reading, language and math was given to all children in the first, second, third, fifth and seventh grades in 2002.
Purpose
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The CRCT was designed with the purpose of measuring how well students picked up the knowledge required by the Georgia Performance Standards. The tests are used as assessments on academic achievements from the student level to the state level. Students' individual strengths and weaknesses are measured in relevance to the GPS guidelines. The CRCT also is used as a gauge of educational quality throughout the state of Georgia.
Issues
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Issues have been rising concerning the age appropriateness of the testing as well as the overall effectiveness. While the CRCT is, as of 2009, not even a decade old, it has caused parents to criticize the overuse of the results when comparing the individual grades of the students. These complaints are caused by students who, having average or above-average grades, being forced to attend summer school because they failed to meet the minimum standards of the CRCT.
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