The release of statewide CRCT results have again shown Forsyth County schools to be among the best in the state, both in systemwide rankings and in the scores of individual schools.
The CRCT is a standardized test of knowledge in reading, language arts and math and is administered to students in grades 1-8.
This year’s results showed Forsyth to be at the top of the list for the state’s largest school systems.
At the third grade level, which many education experts say is a crucial point in academic growth, some 98 percent of local students met or exceeded reading standards and 94 percent met or exceeded math stardards.
Superintendent Buster Evans was quick to praise the county’s teachers for the strong showing by local students. His comments were most appropriate. While every element of the public school experience plays a role in academic development — from administrators to bus drivers and custodians — it is still the classroom teacher that forms the foundation for excellence in any school.
But unfortunately not all teachers in the state are deserving of praise.
Officials have confirmed that as a result of a lengthy investigation into cheating on CRCT testing, some 80 teachers statewide now face the possibility of disciplinary action.
Published reports indicate that those 80 teachers are in addition to some 100 employees of the Atlanta City School system who are being investigated for possible violations of security procedures related to the test.
When the investigations are completed, we hope the state is serious enough about educating its youngsters to terminate any and all public school employees that are conclusively proven to have been involved in cheating on the CRCT.
Anything less than termination and suspension of professional licensing for those willing to cheat in order to improve student test scores will make a mockery of public education in Georgia.
The CRCT is a standardized test of knowledge in reading, language arts and math and is administered to students in grades 1-8.
This year’s results showed Forsyth to be at the top of the list for the state’s largest school systems.
At the third grade level, which many education experts say is a crucial point in academic growth, some 98 percent of local students met or exceeded reading standards and 94 percent met or exceeded math stardards.
Superintendent Buster Evans was quick to praise the county’s teachers for the strong showing by local students. His comments were most appropriate. While every element of the public school experience plays a role in academic development — from administrators to bus drivers and custodians — it is still the classroom teacher that forms the foundation for excellence in any school.
But unfortunately not all teachers in the state are deserving of praise.
Officials have confirmed that as a result of a lengthy investigation into cheating on CRCT testing, some 80 teachers statewide now face the possibility of disciplinary action.
Published reports indicate that those 80 teachers are in addition to some 100 employees of the Atlanta City School system who are being investigated for possible violations of security procedures related to the test.
When the investigations are completed, we hope the state is serious enough about educating its youngsters to terminate any and all public school employees that are conclusively proven to have been involved in cheating on the CRCT.
Anything less than termination and suspension of professional licensing for those willing to cheat in order to improve student test scores will make a mockery of public education in Georgia.