The CRCT became a requirement for Georgia students in 2000, when the A+ Education Reform Act was amended. Under the A+ Education Reform Act of 2000, the CRCT is designed to ensure Georgia students are learning the required information. Testing material is established using the Georgia Performance Standards and does not take into account the standardized testing of other national school systems. The first CRCT was given in the spring of 2002 to grades 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7.
The CRCT is giving to students in grades 1 to 8 at the end of each school year. Annual testing measures what the Georgia Performance Standards has determined each grade level should be taught throughout the school year. The CRCT assesses a Georgia student's English, language arts, reading, mathematics, science and social studies skills. Only students in third to eighth grade are required to complete the science and social studies portions of the CRCT.
The CRCT is used to measure how much knowledge each student is able to learn and retain over the course of a school year. Each test is based on the Georgia Performance Standards expectations for the students' grade level. The CRCT is used to identify the students' educational problem areas and his or her academic strengths. Results of the CRCT are used by the Georgia Department of Education to ensure the quality of education in Georgia.
To avoid placing unrealistic expectations on students in grades 1 and 2, the CRCT takes into account the ages of the students and the testing material. Each year, the CRCT undergoes a peer review of standards by assessment experts from throughout the United States. The content of the testing material and the scoring standards are reviewed by a team that is formed by the U.S. Department of Education.
After completing the CRCT, each student is scored based on his or her performance in comparison to the state standards. One of three scores (did not meet standards, meets standards, exceeds standards) is assigned to the students' test results. The CRCT scores for each school are made available online for the public to review. Students who do not meet standards have the opportunity to retake the CRCT or may attend summer school if necessary.