Statewide Students Show Improvement on CRCT, Bibb County Lags Behind

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Students across the state in elementary and middle schools improved on majority of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) taken this year, while Bibb County schools lagged behind.

Once again, the school systems scores ranked below the state’s average but overall showed improvement from year’s past. The preliminary results released on Tuesday showed a 5% increase in social studies with increases in reading and a slight increase in math. According to Susanne Griffin-Ziebart, Bibb County Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and Redesign, the systems’ gradual progress shows the plan in place is helping improve numbers.

“We get some additional support from the state and certainly from our perspective some of the monitoring, some of the support that is provided from the district will be increased at these sites,” she said, “we are encouraged by the fact that we’re seeing gains.”

The school system and the state testing system are in transitional period and scores may reflect that, Ziebart said. Georgia was one of several states granted a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act and the expectations of the Adequate Yearly Progress. The state now uses the CRCT and other criteria including the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) as an accountability system. The state is also transitioning to a new test and system that is expected to roll out some time next year, according to Georgia Department of Education. In a news release, Dr. John Barge, State School Superintendent said, “the new cut scores will likely result in fewer students meeting and/or exceeding standards, but that is common when you change to a new and more rigorous test.”

In Bibb County, the school system is transitioning from one leader to the next. Earlier this month, Dr. Steve Smith took his oath of office as the interim superintendent of Bibb Schools. In February, Dr. Romain Dallemand resigned as superintendent accepting a buyout in a lump sum of $350,000.

“This is a good time to look at the trends and patterns,” Ziebart said, “we’re always in transition and looking for areas of opportunity to improve.”

The CRCT individual school results will be released no later than July 10.

Click here for a full list of Bibb County’s 2013 CRCT Results.

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