PSSA Exams

Below are frequently asked questions about state-mandated assessments. These answers reflect our current thinking based on available information and will be added to as new questions arise.

Q1: Are there any academic repercussions on a student who does not take the PSSAs? Do these tests have any effect, for example, on placement in advanced math or any other academic decisions?

A1: At this time, there are no direct repercussions to a student, whose family decides to opt out of participation in state-mandated testing for religious reasons. The PSSAs are a local and state measure of the extent to which a student achieved the learning goals identified in the standards for a particular grade level. There are other indicators of this within the local curriculum. At this time, the decision to opt out of participation in state-mandated assessments for religious reasons does not have any effect on placement in future courses.

Q2: If a student does not take the PSSA's, what will they do during that time instead?

A2: If a family decides to opt their child out of participation in state-mandated assessments for religious reasons, a child will be engaged in an alternate learning activity to be determined in the buildings.

Q3: Do the results of the PSSAs impact a teacher's annual performance evaluations? If students do not take the tests or if the tests are not administered, does it affect the teacher in any way?

A3: These assessment results are part of the data that comprise the building-level data portion and when appropriate, the teacher-specific data portion of a classroom teacher’s evaluation. More information is available here.

Q4: Is state or federal funding for the school tied to results or even just the number of students who take the PSSA's?

A4: At this time, funding is not directly tied to performance on state-mandated assessments, and funding is not directly connected to the participation rate in state-mandated assessments.

Q5: Are PSSA rankings important to the school in any way?

A5: Performance on state-mandated assessments is one indicator of the quality of our instructional program. This indicator is used to compare ourselves with other districts and these performance scores are a frequently a component in recognitions form various educational organizations. PSSA and standardized test scores have been used by many organizations and individuals to evaluate the rigor of district programming. In order to view information about Future Ready PA Index, please click here.

Q6: Are PSSA test results valid if fewer than 95% of the students in a school building participate?

A6: It is the position of the Pennsylvania Department of Education that the validity of PSSA results are not compromised by the percentage of students participating in it.

Q7: For what reason would a family opt their student out of state testing?

A7: The only approved reason to opt out of participating in PSSA testing, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is for religious beliefs.

Q8: Does the District endorse test prep specifically for state tests?

A8: The LMSD K-12 Curriculum Services Team does not reallocate instructional time and resources specific to the preparation of students for participation in the PSSA

General Information about the PSSA

Which schools participate?

All school districts and charter schools participate in the assessments. Nonpublic and private schools may also participate on a voluntary basis.

Which students take the assessments?

Except for a very few students who meet specific criteria for participation in an alternate assessment, all students are included in the assessments as outlined below: ELA & Mathematics—Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Science—Grades 4 and 8

Who decided what the assessments should measure?

Groups of educators from all levels of education in Pennsylvania chose the areas of knowledge and skills upon which the assessments are based. The groups included teachers, supervisors, curriculum directors, and college specialists. They also reviewed, edited, and approved the test items.

Who administers the assessments?

Each school chooses the person(s) who will administer the assessments. In most cases, these are teachers in the students’ building.

How are the results reported?

Two copies of the individual student report for all assessments will be sent to all schools and districts that participate for distribution to parents, teachers, school counselors, and/or principals. The state will not receive any report with individual names included. School-level reports will be used for curricular and planning purposes. School districts and charter schools may publish the results of PSSA testing for each school. The state will also release school-by-school assessment data.

May parents see the assessments?

Yes, under one circumstance. School entities are required to have policies to ensure that parents or guardians have the right to review a state assessment in the school entity during convenient hours for parents or guardians from the time testing materials are received to the end of the make-up schedule in order to determine whether a state assessment conflicts with their religious belief. This is the only reason allowable under regulation.

Confidentiality agreements must be signed, and no copies of the assessments or notes about assessment items will be permitted to leave the school. If after reviewing the test, parents or guardians find the test to be in conflict with their religious belief and wish their student(s) to be excused from the test, the right of the parents or guardians will not be denied upon written request to the applicable school district Superintendent, charter school Chief Executive Officer, or AVTS Director. Parents or guardians should contact their child’s school to make arrangements to review the test.

Report Testing Irregularities

Parents/guardians who believe that a testing irregularity may have occurred may email ra-ed-pssa-keystone@pa.gov or call 844-418-1651 to report the incident.

Information about the English Language Arts Assessment (grades 3 through 8)

How long does the assessment take?

The entire English Language Arts assessment takes approximately three to four hours to complete. Your school district will inform you about the assessment schedule.

What does the assessment include?

Each student completes three sections of questions for the English Language Arts assessment. Some portions will be the same for all students, and some will consist of different groups of questions.

What types of questions are on the assessment?

Students respond to multiple-choice, evidence-based selected-response, and constructed-response questions. In a multiple-choice question, the correct answer(s) is chosen from four options. Evidence-based selected response questions have two parts, and students select one or more answers for each part. Constructed response questions may include a short-answer (grade 3) or text dependent analysis (grades 4 through 8). Short-answer questions require students to compose a brief response to support their answer. For the text dependent analysis question, students analyze a text and use evidence from the reading passage to compose an essay.

How are written responses to constructed response items scored?

The written responses for English Language Arts are scored by evaluators trained in applying an ELA-specific scoring guideline. For short-answer questions, scores are based on content only. Spelling and punctuation are not included as part of the scoring process. Responses to text dependent analysis questions are scored based on both content and writing skills.

What is assessed in English Language Arts?

The English Language Arts assessment addresses six major reporting categories as well as two text types. Students respond to standalone multiple-choice items assessing language. Additionally, students read a number of passages from literature and informational genres and respond to questions about these passages that indicate both comprehension and reading skills and the students’ analysis and interpretation of different types of texts.

Information about the Mathematics Assessment (grades 3 through 8)

How long does the assessment take?

The entire mathematics assessment takes approximately two to three hours to complete. Your school district will inform you about the assessment schedule.

What does the assessment include?

Each student completes two sections of questions for the mathematics assessment. Some portions will be the same for all students, and some will consist of different groups of questions.

What types of questions are on the assessment?

Students respond to two types of questions: multiple choice and open-ended. In a multiple-choice question, the correct answer is chosen from the four presented options, while open-ended questions require students to compose their responses. Open-ended questions generally require students to provide detail in support of their answers (such as showing or describing the steps performed to complete a calculation).

How are written responses to open-ended items scored?

The written responses for mathematics open- ended items are scored by evaluators trained in applying a mathematics-specific scoring guideline. In mathematics, scores are based on content only. Spelling and punctuation are not included as part of the scoring process.

What is assessed in Mathematics?

The mathematics assessment addresses five major reporting categories across four clusters. The reporting categories assessed and the proportion of questions in each reporting category vary by grade level. As a part of the assessment of Cluster A, Numbers and Operations, students in grades 4 through 8 respond to a set of questions without a calculator. Constructed response items may require the students to show all of their work (e.g., calculations, graphs, drawings) and/or to explain in writing how they solved the problems.

Information about the Science Assessment (grades 4 and 8)

How long does the assessment take?

The entire science assessment takes approximately one to two hours to complete. Your school district will inform you about the assessment schedule.

What does the assessment include?

Students in grades 4 and 8 complete two sections of questions for the science assessment. Some portions will be the same for all students, and some will consist of different groups of questions.

What types of questions are on the assessment?

Students respond to two types of questions: multiple choice and open-ended. In a multiple-choice question, the correct answer is chosen from the four presented options, while open-ended questions require students to compose their responses. At grade 8, the science assessment also includes science scenarios.

What is a science scenario?

A science scenario contains text, graphics, charts, and/ or tables and uses these elements to describe the results of a class project, an experiment, or other similar research. Students use the information found in a science scenario to answer multiple-choice questions.

How are written responses to open-ended items scored?

The written responses for science open-ended items are scored by evaluators trained in applying a science specific scoring guideline. In science, scores are based on content only. Spelling and punctuation are not included as part of the scoring process.

What is assessed in science?

The science assessment addresses the four major reporting categories: The Nature of Science, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences. The proportion of items in each reporting category varies by grade level.