Once upon a time, Georgia teachers

struggled to teach students what they needed to know to score well on

high-stakes tests. Unfortunately, our educators had to wait until the

results were in before they knew how successful their lessons had been.

The days of guessing and hoping are now over, thanks to a new online tool

that promises to help boost student achievement statewide.

The new Online Criterion Referenced

Competency Test provides access to short tests containing questions similar

to those found on the actual CRCT, which is given to all students in first

through eighth grades. The online practice site, which went live Jan.

30, is much more sophisticated and user-friendly than what was available

to our teachers in the past.

Students will be able to take

two kinds of tests � those put together by the computer or those that

are constructed by teachers. By designing new tests, teachers can select

from more than 4,700 questions using an online "shopping cart"

approach. They then assign the tests to students in their classes. Test

results are available to the teachers as soon as the student is finished,

and will immediately identify lessons that may need to be reinforced or

students who may need extra help. The key is that this valuable information

is available months before the student takes the actual test, giving teachers

time to help those who may be falling behind in specific areas.

The practice site contains

questions in the areas of English/language arts, math, science and social

studies. Reading items, currently being fine-tuned, are expected to be

added in the coming weeks.

The CRCT Online is a password

protected tool for classroom teachers, and is not accessible by the general

public.