The issue of the CRT and whether or not results should count 20 percent of students’ nine - weeks grade may be decided in court.

The CRT (criterion referenced test) is being administered to Fairfield County public school students at the end of each nine weeks grading period.

The Fairfield Parents Association, Inc. and Chante Jackson, as a parent of a child attending Fairfield Primary School, have brought suit against the Fairfield County School District. It was filed Tuesday afternoon with Fairfield County Clerk of Court Betty Jo Beckham.

The complaint associated with the lawsuit states that the plaintiffs want a declaratory judgement stating that the District violated its own code and state law by allowing Ingram to implement the CRT.

The suit seeks a temporary restraining order against the District preventing CRT results from being counted as 20 percent of student nine weeks grade for the third and fourth grading periods of the current school year.

The complaint associated with the lawsuit alleges that the District’s actions dealing with the CRT are in violation of district policy IKE. It further states that “Ingram, without required approval of the Board of Trustees for Defendant School District, changed the way the district administered the required 20 percent comprehensive post test which is required by Code IKE.

“Previously to Ingram(‘s) reign, the mandated 20 percent comprehensive post test (required under Code IKE) was comprised of a teacher - generated comprehensive post test, which was given at the end of the instructional period.”

A second claim for relief states that the plaintiffs have suffered “substantial harm, especially with the reduction of the affected children’s academic standings.”

The third claim for relief asks that the Court certify the action as a class - action lawsuit.

“Plaintiffs allege that this matter should be certified as a class - action lawsuit,because the class is so numerous that joinder (the joining of parties in a suit) of all members is impractical,” the complaint reads.

An effort to reach District attorney Jane Turner for comment was successful as of press time.

Attorney Glenn Walters of Orangeburg is serving as the attorney for the plaintiffs.