Relief could be on the way for school systems strapped with the financial burden of drastically higher summer school enrollments.
The Georgia Department of Education will ask the state school board to approve $1.4 million to ease the burden on local school systems, which are preparing for drastic increases in summer school enrollment because of dismal math scores on standardized tests.
Preliminary figures show that 40 percent of the state's eighth-graders failed the math portion of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. Pupils must pass this test or win an appeal to advance to the ninth grade.
Although it's not mandatory, school officials urge children who failed a required portion of the CRCT to attend the summer sessions so they are prepared for the retest given afterward. Pupils must attempt the retest to be eligible for an appeal.
Local school systems are unsure exactly how many pupils will show up for summer school, but they anticipate the numbers to be much greater than initially expected.
"I suppose everyone is scrambling now," said Virginia Bradshaw, Richmond County's assistant superintendent for instructional services.
On Wednesday, officials were pinning down which pupils plan to attend summer school, Dr. Bradshaw said.
When the county set its budget a year ago, it allocated money for summer school based on enrollment from previous years, not expecting the widespread problems with the math test this year.
"If we know we're going to get more money, we could hire more teachers," Dr. Bradshaw said.
State Department of Education spokesman Dana Tofig said the $1.4 million could be approved as soon as the state board's June meeting. The state department is also asking local systems to document their summer school expenses so it can make a pitch to the General Assembly for more funding.
Officials in Richmond, Columbia and McDuffie counties expect to incur greater costs because of the summer school spike.
Columbia County, for instance, has already hired 12 additional math teachers, which will cost about $32,000.
In McDuffie County, eighth-grade math summer school classes have doubled since last year, according to Barry O'Neill, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. This year's enrollment in those classes is 88, up from 46 last year.
Although Jefferson County also expects an increase in enrollment, school officials don't expect it to come with a hefty cost.
Staff Writer Betsy Gilliland and Morris News Service staff writers Lynn Davidson and Parish Howard contributed to this story.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
My Question is, how come there is no virtual summer school for these kids since you have already made Georgia Virtual Academy for those who are expelled or home schooled? How come you stop short of getting the kids a tutor when you know good and well that they are having this much difficulty with the subjects that are NOT taught in class and yet on the CRCT tests? This is an Ongoing Problem, why won't you address this?????????
If 40% of the students didn't pass the crct, then 60% did. Why the disparity? Is this a common number for each school or did some districts under perform and skew the results? If so, why? Math is math. How do you teach the wrong kind of math?(as was done with the social studies) Let's hope Dr Bedden is addressing this problem at the source so Richmond County doesn't have to endure this situation again.
They taught what they were told was going to be on the tests as in Social Studies they taught the curriculum and then it was nothing but current events from Atlanta problem is if you don't live there you don't pay attention to what happens there as much. As for math they were told the things that were supposed to be ont here so they focused more on them and then it was the stuff they had not focused as hard on that was on there so that is why they are not doing as well. I say to make a child pass or fail on 1 test is really stupid if their grades get them through all year some kids are not test takers and then the kicker is they don't have a different test for kids who have disabilities and have IEPs for they're regular school work if they can't do the regular work without changes what makes the state leaders think they can take these tests without changes. I think they need to come down and have to sit through a year of class not sit on their butts and decide what t hey think will be best because they don't know our kids like we do.
I am running on a little pessimistic attitude this morning I think when it comes to wanting to believe the school system will actually do something to improve the quality of education throughout the state....Maybe they will form a study panel who will receive several thousands of dollars to tell us the education system needs overhauling...:-)
Here's one folks, my son attends 5th grade in the Columbia Co. schools. He was an honor roll student all year long, math being his best and he scored 797 out of 800 on math. I was told that he would be held back in 5th grade unless he attended this summer school program that passes you. The administrators have said that he can retake without attending, but if he misses again they won't advance him. Although, if he misses after attending they will give him a free pass. That is beyond stupid. He is one of many facing this and I have to question why the goverment would spend this tax money when the plan is to pass these children anyway. With that being said, in my opinion why not advance these kids without 3 weeks of schooling that is completely insane. Maybe the educators lacked in some areas and the children are the scapegoats.
I know that there has to be accountability in everything BUT I really feel that the CRCT & the No Child Left Behind Act seriously needs to be bravely addressed. Lets not be fooled John Q. Public; there is MEGA BUCKS behind the pushing of these two tests like everything else that drives the educational system! I know that the educational system has lost ground in the number of students that graduate each year and a rise in the drop out rate but that didn't happen overnight and it isn't going to get fixed overnight. We must start teaching children constantly; like It Take A Village, to VALUE an education. Then PRAISE them for their SMALLEST accomplishment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out, we all like to feel WORTHY!!! Think back, everyone who went to school in the 50's, 60's, & 70's. We got a GREAT education with no frills and no thrills based on these same principles. We were responsible, we graduated, most went to college. Just seeing a paddle in a teacher's hand was enough. Let's get real. Quit playing with education!
My child also attends a Columbia County elementary school. My daughter struggled in math all year because they push the children too hard. Algebra and calculus problems are way too difficult for most 5th grade students to understand. We didn't learn that type of math until we were in junior high or high school. The majority of the items my child was taught was not even on the test. Not just in math, but in science and social studies as well. If they are going to test the children on it, then they should teach it. Now they expect my child to attend summer school for a month with no guarantee that she will be promoted. What's the point ?? Either you promote the children or you don't, but don't expect them to come to summer school and re-take the test and still be told "You are not going to be promoted because you failed the CRCT again". BULL CRAP !!! It is time they re-think this CRCT test !!!!!!!
Oh, another thing, I would like to see the teachers and Mr. Nagle take this test and see how their grades compare to that of the 5th graders. I wonder how well educated some of our educators actually are. Then, I'd like to see their grades posted for all to see.
To the whiners of Columbia County, my 5th grade class had over 90% pass rate in math, and I teach in Richmond County.
Class1, I don't think anyone was whining to start with, there is a flaw in the system that needs to be exposed. As far as your 90% that's great. But a true educator would try to help the situation, not make such a ugly comment that was uncalled for. But I guest the question at hand, is are you committed to helping children learn or do you have other motives?
funding should come from dumb [filtered word] parents!
mayhem, What do you think parents tax dollars equate to DUMB [filtered word]. You must have really had to think hard for that ignorant comment, but as I look at all your other comments it's obvious your clueless on any issue.
Uh, the dumb a&& parents do pay for the funding, IT IS CALLED TAXES. But I suppose all the dumb a&& parents have better manners and more common sense than to make a stupid ridiculous non informed comment such as mayhem did. As Forrest Gump's mother always said "STUPID IS IS STUPID DOES". Obviously meyhem does not have children (which may be a good thing) and does not understand the issue at hand. As far as the comment made by class1, sure you may have had a 90% pass rate, but you failed the other 10% of your class. A true teacher, who loved her students and her choosen profession, should have thought twice before making that type of comment.
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