CRA Makes Kids CRY

The Constructed Response Assessment (CRA) is a state-mandated test made up of math word problems given to grades 3-12 in “preparation” for Common Core testing that will begin in 2015. The first (of three) CRA administrations for this school year occurred in October. (http://stoptntesting.com/2013/11/05/the-cra-test/)

Little-Known CRA Facts:

• Most students had not yet been taught the material covered on the recent CRA because the standards they were tested on had not yet been addressed in the Common Core Pacing Guide.  Teachers must follow the standards timeline set forth in the Common Core Pacing Guides that are provided by the TN Department of Education (DOE).

• Because the TN DOE distributes the Common Core standards Pacing Guides, it seems logical that they should have known that students would most likely not have a clue how to answer the questions.

• Because most students did not know the material tested, many of them suffered undue anxiety and stress as a result of taking this test. For example, one parent said that her 3rd grade daughter came home crying after taking it.  Another parent said that her middle-school son had an anxiety-induced asthma attack and ended up in the ER in reaction to the test. A fourth-grader who tested "advanced" on all sections of the TCAP last school year also suffered anxiety attacks after taking the CRA a few weeks ago  (http://stoptntesting.com/2013/11/05/the-cra-test/). And a 4th grade Metro Nashville teacher recently said the following about the CRA: "I just finished grading CRA and one student's final remarks on the test are: "I tried my best but I think I failed." Breaks my heart! The thing is that this isn't the best student in the world, but he really did try and he didn't leave anything blank. This kid doesn't have the best self-esteem and this just validates his opinion of himself instead of building his self-worth. In my opinion, this is not how to best encourage learning for 9-year olds. He will eventually learn the skills that were tested on the CRA, but he needs to have enough success going forward to build back up his self esteem."

***Parents & teachers call the CRA tests the "CRY" tests!***
This should not be happening to our children.  This is wrong.

• At least one teacher at each school in TN attended training to learn how to score the CRAs (How much money + time did that cost taxpayers?). The trained teachers then taught the other teachers at their schools how to score these tests. And then our children’s teachers were forced to grade these CRAs. On their own time. Without pay.

 
It is clear that the CRA test is an incredible waste of time and money, but, worst of all, it is cruel to our teachers and students. Which leaves us pondering these questions:

• Why does the DOE demand such things from our teachers?
• Why does the DOE purposely set our children up for failure?
• Why does the state legislature allow this to continue?

Please stand up for our children and put an end to this abusive test.Tennessee parents & children are counting on you!  Thank you.