As of Tuesday, August 7, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
CONYERS -- Nearly 300 elementary and middle school students passed critical tests over the summer that they originally failed.
Rockdale County Public Schools officials recently reported to the Rockdale County Board of Education that 149 elementary students and 149 middle school students passed courses over the summer during a summer intensive program.
Students in third, fifth and eighth grades are required to pass the reading portion on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, and students in fifth and eighth grades also are required to pass math to be promoted to the next grade level.
Eugene Baker, assistant superintendent for School Improvement at RCPS, reported that more than 500 elementary and middle school students attended the summer program this year, which was a shortened program from years past due to a required savings of $300,000.
"It was a very compacted time period at the end of the school year," he said.
Of the 274 students in elementary summer school, 149 of them passed reading and math.
He reported that 75 third-graders participated in summer school for reading with 50 students, or 67 percent of them, passing; 69 fifth-graders participated for reading with 26 students, or 38 percent, passing; and 130 fifth-graders participated for math with 73 students, or 56 percent, passing.
In middle school, of the 255 students in summer school, 149 of them passed reading and math.
Baker reported that 27 eighth-graders attended summer school for reading with 14 students, or 52 percent, passing and 228 eight-graders attended for math with 135 students, or 59 percent, passing.
"We had some good results, but we still have some work to do," he said, adding that they were pleased with the results since it was such a compacted program, compared to years past.
Baker also reported that 358 high school students attempted to attain half-credit courses over the summer, and of those, 278 courses were passed. Students had to pay $120 for each course.
The Georgia Department of Education will report final CRCT results later this year that will include summer retest scores. On preliminary results of the CRCT that were reported earlier this year, Rockdale County students in the five critical areas of testing had higher pass averages, compared to overall averages from across the state in the same areas, and many Rockdale County schools overall posted pass rates above state averages in the critical areas.
More like this story
- 400 students pass summer retests; RCPS hoping to make AYP ( August 19, 2011 )
- 400 students pass summer retests ( August 16, 2011 )
- 400 students pass summer retests ( August 18, 2011 )
- Most critical school CRCT scores above state ( July 12, 2012 )
- More students pass critical tests ( August 18, 2010 )
Comments
INJUSTICE_FOR_ALL 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Odd, last year 400. This year 300. Really. exactly 300, thats BS
ctownslimm 9 months, 2 weeks ago
re-read paragraph 1 and 2. It said "nearly 300". 149 +149 = 298.
buck 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I wonder how much that cost us because they didn't want to work at it the first time?
will 9 months, 2 weeks ago
If they fail it the first time hold them back maybe they will work harder. Poor little Johnny and Suzy will learn more by being held back than given another chance to pass. Kids need to learn at an early age that its ok to fail at something, stop holding their hands and make the earn a promotion
Elmo 9 months, 2 weeks ago
So, what happens if they failed the "re-test", do they get held back a year, or is there a "re-RE-test"?
Are they given "study guides", I.e. copies of the test, before taking the "re-test"?
How many home schoolers had to take the "re-test"? Private schoolers?
What happened to six-week "summer school"?
Here's an idea, right after pre-school, let's just issue them all a H.S. diploma, teach them how to fill out government forms, and send them on their merry way.
MsKito 9 months, 2 weeks ago
The headline should have been that half the students did not pass. This is disgraceful. These kids are getting socially promoted without being able to read, write or do math -- and then where do they go? These tests are dumbed down to begin with, and these kids are not passing?
3rdgen 9 months, 2 weeks ago
So quick to jump to the conclusion that those that didn't pass didn't try hard enough or didn't deserve the promotion. What about those kids that had perfect attendance, completed all the assignments given throughout the year and passed all their tests and quizzes but still didn't fare well enough on these tests? My child did not pass the reading portion of the CRCT a few years back despite having a 94 average in that subject. However, so much pressure was levied on the children to pass this one and only test that he choked when it was put in front of him. The teacher cared enough to call me and let me know that when he opened the test booklet he froze and struggled through the whole test. As a result, he failed. The day the results came home he hid behind his bed and cried for hours thinking he'd failed the grade and wouldn't be promoted with his friends - quite a lot for a 9 year old to handle after a full year of giving his all to his school work.
Yes, we must teach our children that sometimes it's okay to fail at something. But it is NOT okay to tear away all of their hard work and dedication on a single test! For years standardized testing has been used to determine the success of the school and curriculum and I support that method in an effort to hold accountable our teachers and school systems to ensure the best possible education is being offered. However, a child that fulfills all the responisbilities laid upon him by a teacher and successfully masters the materials, should be promoted without the "threat" of a single test.
Thankfully, my child attended a summer session that emphasized how to take such a test and passed it with a near perfect score proving he did indeed know the material well enough to have earned the grade in the classroom and the promotion he received. No "study guide" was reviewed, just simple suggestions on how to approach a standardized exam. Since that time, he has passed all of these tests without further incident. I am grateful he had the opportunity to re-test and to learn not to cave into the pressure others place upon them.
I have never been a fan of the CRCT as it places the responsibilities of adults square on the shoulders of our children. The purpose of these tests has more to do with allocation of federal funds than it does on true education goals. Teach to the test has become the preferred method in the classroom as the stakes for teachers and administrators has steadily risen. What a shame our classrooms have become pressure cookers for our youth instead of a time of exploration, expansion of reasoning and true learning.
Elmo 9 months, 1 week ago
The "teach-the-test mentality was once used to "teach" the first class radiotelephone test to people so they would be radio station "engineers".
I knew people who took it, passed and got their "first class license", however, some of these folks didn't know a transistor from a garden rake, and used their license for "resume' enhancement" only.
Thus the problem with teaching the test...looks good on paper, but has no practical value in life.
I admit I don't know how they do it now, but in the day there were weekly test and pop quizzes, then the oh-so-dreaded "9-weeks-tests" and then the finals. The cumulative knowledge gleaned from the continual testing prepared students for the landmark finals.
I don't subscribe to the "sometimes it's 'OK' to fail" theory, as it invites complacency. I remember getting into big trouble at home if I made a "C". Failing was not an option.
While failing is not the end of the world, allowing it without consequence sending the wrong message.
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