Assessment
In 1999, Pennsylvania adopted academic standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and for Mathematics. These standards identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels. School districts possess the freedom to design curriculum and instruction to ensure that students meet or exceed the standards' expectations.
The annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is a standards-based, criterion-referenced assessment used to measure a student's attainment of the academic standards while also determining the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of the standards. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 is assessed in reading and math. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 5, 8 and 11 is assessed in writing. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 4, 8 and 11 is assessed in science.
Individual student scores, provided only to their respective schools, can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may be in need of additional educational opportunities, and school scores provide information to schools and districts for curriculum and instruction improvement discussions and planning.
In compliance with ยง4.51(b)(4) of the PA School Code the State Board of Education approved, "specific criteria for advanced, proficient, basic and below basic levels of performance."
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Most Requested Content...
PSSA and AYP Results - aggregate and disaggregated state assessment results at the school, district and state levels, overall Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status/proceeding level for schools and districts
Item and Scoring Samplers - released PSSA items with actual student reponses, scoring guidelines/rubrics
Assessment Handbook - test blueprint and information on test design, numbers and types of questions, overview and background information for the PSSA, linking the PSSA to classroom practice, FAQs
Assessment Anchors - subject and grade-specific eligible content for the PSSA, glossaries
Testing Calendars - the scheduled testing windows for required state assessments
Testing Accommodations - allowable testing adaptations for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans, English Language Learners (ELLs) and all students
Test Administration Materials - directions for school and district assessment coordinators and administrators to guide the administration of the PSSA
PSSA Technical Analysis - validity and reliability information, raw-to-scaled-score-to-percentile conversions, scoring methodology
Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS) - a tool for measuring and tracking student growth/progress in addition to the achievement data provided by the PSSA
Pennsylvania Accountability System (PAS) - Pennsylvania's system of measuring Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) of public schools and districts based on PSSA results and other key academic indicators in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (NCLB). |
