Making the Grade
Preparation and practice are key for students to pass these high-stakes tests.
by Rebecca A. Mathis

As schools are held more accountable for student learning, more stringent measures of student performance have been instituted. Greater emphasis has been placed on standardized test scores and, at certain grade levels, failing the test means the student will not be promoted to the next grade. Georgia students take three main standardized tests to assess student performance. They are: Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT), End of Course Tests (EOCT) and the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT). Regardless of the test or grade level, parents should know what each test covers, and the starting point for preparation is to complete class assignments and homework.

It’s Fundamental, Parents

Students in grades 1-8 take the CRCT. Grades 1-2 are tested in language arts, reading and mathematics. Grades 3-8 also are tested in these subjects plus social studies and science. Parents should be aware of the content of the tests, advises Elizabeth Heckman, principal of Brockett Elementary School in Tucker. To find out what each test covers, parents can view the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for each subject and grade level at www.georgiastandards.org.  “Parent involvement is critical not only for CRCT but overall performance,” says Heckman. Once you know what is on the test and what is at stake, you can begin to prepare your child for test success.

The CRCT is a high-stakes test for third- and fifth-graders. To be promoted, third-graders must pass the reading portion of the CRCT; fifth-graders must pass the reading and mathematics portion to be promoted. The CRCT measures “how much of the state curriculum they know,” says Curtis Eidson, assistant principal of Peachtree Charter Middle School in Dunwoody. He says parents “can assist their students in their daily activities,” like homework and class assignments.

Eidson also recommends parents help their children develop test-taking skills. “Part of taking a test is feeling at ease in sitting down and taking the test,” he says. Sample tests are available online at www.georgiaoas.org.

The new year should mark the beginning of CRCT preparation, recommends Monica Batiste, data administrator at Lilburn’s G.H. Hopkins Elementary School. In January, updated sample CRCT tests are posted online. She also advises that children practice basic math facts and read a minimum of 10-15 minutes daily.

Tina Witherby made sure her daughter completed the online sample tests, which she believes helped her daughter’s performance on the CRCT. “I told her the importance of the test [beforehand],” she says. Witherby attended a parental information session at Wynbrooke Elementary School in Stone Mountain, where she learned about games and other methods parents can use to help children prepare for the test. Many schools offer information sessions for parents; check with your child’s school to find out if one is offered there.

A benefit of taking the CRCT during the early years is that it helps students grow accustomed to taking standardized tests, of which they will take many during the course of their education.

Testing at a Glance

High School Smarts

High school students are deluged with standardized tests, which begin freshman year. Students take EOCT at every grade level and soon will have them in each subject once a phase-in period ends. These tests indicate where more teacher focus is needed in the curriculum to strengthen students’ weaker skills.

At Stone Mountain High School, scores from EOCT are 15 percent of a student’s overall grade. The “EOCT are just as important” as other tests, says Principal Carolyn Williams. The tests show how well students know the material taught, essentially the same information that will be tested on the GHSGT.

Each student who wants a Georgia high school diploma must pass the GHSGT and the Georgia High School Writing Assessment. Students are first given these assessments in 11th grade. Those who do not pass have multiple opportunities to retest during the 12th grade. Most students who are unsuccessful the first time are able to pass after remediation.

The test covers material taught in grades 9-12 and preparation begins upon entering high school. Each student needs “a good set of study skills,” advises Alpharetta’s Chattahoochee High School counselor Ken Cooke. He also suggests students establish a routine study habit that includes a designated time and place to study.

Parents also should be aware of how well their child is doing in the content areas tested. If a child is having problems grasping a concept, consider obtaining tutoring for him. Many schools offer tutorial sessions prior to testing, usually before or after school. Some schools offer sessions during lunch. At Stone Mountain High School, tutoring sessions also were offered Saturday mornings. Online study guides found at www.gadoe.org (in the curriculum drop-down box, click “Testing”) are an excellent resource to help prepare your child for this high-stakes test.

Whether your child is taking the CRCT, EOCT or GHSGT, she must be in school ready to learn and complete class assignments to have the foundation necessary to pass these tests. Parental involvement, coupled with the wealth of information available online, serve to strengthen that foundation and help students make the grade.