News 12 at 6 o'clock, July 18th, 2008

AUGUSTA, GA---Every year students in the third, fifth, and eighth grades take the CRCT. It's a controversial test and now it's about to get even more attention.

The numbers are just preliminary and these numbers are a little misleading too. They count the number of tests failed and not the actual number of students who will have to be held back. Some students re-took both the math and reading. Some only took one.

Third Grade- Reading Only
-461 Retook Test
-210 Did not meet requirements
-*Positive: 251 Did meet requirements

Fifth Grade- Reading
-391 Retook Test
-204 Did not meet requirements
Fifth Grade- Math
-889 Retook Test
-522 Did not meet requirements

Eighth Grade- Reading
-294 Retook Test
-197 Did not meet requirements
Eigth Grade- Math
-1,907 Retook Test
-782 Did not meet requirements

We can't say how many students this affects. We only know the number of tests that were failed, but there was a reading and a math category and some took both.

While the Richmond County Board of Education is disappointed with these results, specifically those in the eighth grade. They do plan on working even harder this year to make up for it.

"Without a doubt the eight grade has been the most problematic with the scores on the retest. The history shows that we may take a jab, we may take a punch, but in the end we get back up and we come back swinging and we start making progress," says Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden.

Now there is an appeal process for parents of children who did not meet the retest requirements. They can be granted to the next grade level after unanimous approval from the parent, teacher, and principal.

However, parents are going to have to wait a few more weeks to know what grade their child will be entering. They'll have to wait until both the principals and the child's last teacher are back from summer break.