Welcome!Welcome!1.1.Please sign in (don’t Please sign in (don’t

forget to put your forget to put your child’s name, too)child’s name, too)

2.2.Then find a seat where Then find a seat where you can see.you can see.

What’s all What’s all the fuss the fuss

about the about the CRCT?CRCT?

What is the CRCT?What is the CRCT? Georgia law, as amended by the A+ Georgia law, as amended by the A+

Education Reform Act of 2000, requires that Education Reform Act of 2000, requires that all students in all students in grades onegrades one through eightthrough eight take take the CRCT in the content areas of the CRCT in the content areas of reading, reading, English/language arts, and mathematicsEnglish/language arts, and mathematics. . Students in grades Students in grades three through eightthree through eight are are also assessed in also assessed in science and social studiesscience and social studies. . The CRCT only assesses the The CRCT only assesses the content content standards outlined in the GPSstandards outlined in the GPS. .

Due to budget constraints, the CRCT will not Due to budget constraints, the CRCT will not be administered inbe administered in grades one and two in grades one and two in spring 2012. spring 2012. They will take a Reading End of They will take a Reading End of Year Test on Tuesday, May 8Year Test on Tuesday, May 8thth, and a Math , and a Math End of Year Test on Wednesday, May 9End of Year Test on Wednesday, May 9th.th.

What is the Purpose of the What is the Purpose of the CRCT?CRCT?

To ensure students are learning at To ensure students are learning at their grade level.their grade level.

To provide data to teachers, schools, To provide data to teachers, schools, and school districts in order to make and school districts in order to make better instructional decisions.better instructional decisions.

Accountability (Annual Yearly Accountability (Annual Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind).Progress under No Child Left Behind).

2012 Dates2012 Dates Tuesday, April 10 – Reading Tuesday, April 10 – Reading Wednesday, April 11 English/Language ArtsWednesday, April 11 English/Language Arts Thursday, April 12 – Math Thursday, April 12 – Math Tuesday, April 17 – ScienceTuesday, April 17 – Science Wednesday, April 18 – Social StudiesWednesday, April 18 – Social Studies Friday, April 13; Monday, April 16; Friday, April 13; Monday, April 16;

Thursday, April 18; Friday, April 20 – Make Thursday, April 18; Friday, April 20 – Make Up TestsUp Tests

What is the Test Schedule?

Each day there are two tests in one subject area. Each test lasts a minimum of 45 minutes and students can have up to 70 minutes if needed.

There is a break of approximately 10 minutes between tests. During the break students must remain quiet as other rooms may not be finished testing.

How is Content Tested? All sections of the CRCT are in

multiple choice format with 4 possible answers.

All sections are read independently by the students.

Students may underline, circle, etc. in the book, but answers MUST go in the proper place on the ANSWER document.

Once a student has begun a section, he/she MUST complete it during that testing session.

What will the scores What will the scores look like?look like?

The CRCT measures how well a student The CRCT measures how well a student has acquired knowledge and skills has acquired knowledge and skills covered by the curriculum for their covered by the curriculum for their grade level.grade level.

Student scores are reported according Student scores are reported according to three performance levels:to three performance levels:

Exceeds Expectations (above 850)Exceeds Expectations (above 850)

Meets Expectations (800-849)Meets Expectations (800-849)

Does Not Meet Expectations (below 800)Does Not Meet Expectations (below 800)

How does the CRCT differ from a norm-referenced test (NRT)?

Criterion-referenced tests, such as the CRCT, are designed to measure how well students acquire, learn, and accomplish the knowledge and skills set forth in a specific curriculum or unit of instruction.

The CRCT is specifically intended to test Georgia's performance/content standards outlined in the GPS.

Norm-referenced tests (NRT), such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), measure instructional standards commonly taught throughout the entire United States of America.

Additionally, NRTs highlight differences between and among students across an achievement continuum (the bell curve).

How are test results How are test results used?used?

To provide information about the To provide information about the academic achievement of academic achievement of students, classes, schools, students, classes, schools, school systems, and the stateschool systems, and the state

To identify individual student To identify individual student strengths and weaknessesstrengths and weaknesses

What are the Benchmark What are the Benchmark Years?Years?

Third grade students Third grade students ARE REQUIREDARE REQUIRED to to Meet or Exceed Expectations in the area of Meet or Exceed Expectations in the area of ReadingReading in order to be considered for in order to be considered for promotionpromotion

Fourth grade students Fourth grade students ARE EXPECTEDARE EXPECTED to to Meet or Exceed Expectations for both Meet or Exceed Expectations for both READINGREADING and and MATHMATH

Fifth grade students Fifth grade students ARE REQUIREDARE REQUIRED to Meet to Meet or Exceed Expectations for both or Exceed Expectations for both READINGREADING and and MATHMATH in order to be considered for in order to be considered for promotionpromotion

Are Students With Disabilities or Are Students With Disabilities or students who are English Language students who are English Language Learners required to take the CRCT?Learners required to take the CRCT?

State rules, the federal requirements of No State rules, the federal requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and the Child Left Behind (NCLB), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandate that all students (IDEA) mandate that all students participate in the state assessment participate in the state assessment program. program.

All students are tested in all content areas All students are tested in all content areas of the CRCT, and they are tested on grade of the CRCT, and they are tested on grade level. level. Some students with exceptionalities Some students with exceptionalities take the CRCT-M.take the CRCT-M.

Weeks Before the Test We Will…

Review all standardsReinforce standards taughtGive students chance to practice and feel more comfortable about their skills

What can I do to What can I do to help my child?help my child?

Students who are prepared, calm, Students who are prepared, calm, and rested perform better on and rested perform better on

tests.tests.

Encourage good study habits Encourage good study habits and test-taking skillsand test-taking skills

Explain the purpose of the test. Explain the purpose of the test. Let your child know that you Let your child know that you

consider the test important.consider the test important. Point out some items may be Point out some items may be

more difficult than others--it’s ok more difficult than others--it’s ok if he/she doesn’t know all of the if he/she doesn’t know all of the answers.answers.

Reassure your child he/she will Reassure your child he/she will have ample time to complete the have ample time to complete the test.test.

Be sure your child gets plenty Be sure your child gets plenty of sleep and has a good of sleep and has a good breakfast on test days.breakfast on test days.

Be sure your child is at school Be sure your child is at school on time on test days. on time on test days.

Remember to ask your child Remember to ask your child about testing at the end of about testing at the end of each day.each day.

Resources for CRCT Practice can Resources for CRCT Practice can be found on our website.be found on our website.

The URL is http://www.effinghamschools.com

Select Rincon Elementary from the pull-down menu under select a school

Click on students from the menu choices

Click on CRCT Practice

Parent Testing Resources can also be found on our website.

The URL is http://www.effinghamschools.com

Select Rincon Elementary from the pull-down menu under select a school

Click on Parents from the menu choices

Click on Testing Help Click on Georgia

Department of Education

OASOASA computer based A computer based program provided program provided by the Georgia by the Georgia Department of Department of Education that Education that provides practice provides practice CRCT questions CRCT questions for your child to for your child to become more become more familiar with test familiar with test material and material and format.format.

https://www.georgiaoas.org

Jeopardy Labs CRCT Practice

Jeopardy Labs has some Jeopardy Games that are good review for the CRCT

Click on Students and scroll down to Jeopardy Labs CRCT Practice

Choose your grade level and subject you want to practice

Thank you for sharing your child with us!

Thank you for working with them at home.

Thank you for listening and encouraging.

Thank you for caring and coming!