A Message from the Principal

In recent days, you may have seen stories in the news regarding concerns about CRCT test results at some Georgia schools. We are pleased to inform you that the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement has declared Drew Charter a school that is “Clear of Concern” – which validates Drew’s commitment not only to high achievement but also to utmost integrity. Our entire Drew family – teachers, staff, students and volunteers – reflects our dedication to fairness and ethics, each and every day.  I wanted to take a moment to answer some of the questions you might have about these news stories and what they mean for students at Drew.

What is the CRCT?

The CRCT is a standardized assessment given each spring to Georgia students in grades 1-8. The test is designed to measure how well students at each grade level have learned the state’s curriculum.

Why are CRCT scores in the news?

Last week, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) released the results of a spring 2009 CRCT erasure analysis. The analysis focused on the number of wrong answers that had been changed to right answers on individual student answer sheets in Reading, English-Language Arts and Mathematics. Based on the analysis, schools were placed in varying categories according to the degree of concern the state had about potential ethical irregularities at the school. Again, Drew was given the highest rating by the state – “Clear of Concern.”

What does this news say about Drew?

We are pleased that the state analysis has validated our commitment to the highest of ethical standards. Many of the measures we have long used to ensure the integrity of the testing process are now being adopted by other schools across the state. It also means that you can trust that Drew’s standardized test scores are a true and accurate reflection of the significant and sustained academic progress being achieved by Drew students.

You can be confident that your child is being educated in an environment with unsurpassed academic and ethical standards. We are proud of our exemplary teachers and our outstanding students, and we are thankful that you and your child are a part of our vibrant learning community.