Assessment Information

The Pennsylvania System of State Assessment (PSSA) is a standards-based, criterion referenced assessment used to measure a student’s attainment of academic standards while determining the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of state standards.

Additional Resources

• PDE PSSA Parent Letter (PDF)
• PDE PSSA FAQs (PDF)
• PDE Calculator Policy (PDF)
• PDE Code of Conduct for Test Takers (PDF)

ACCESS is a large-scale test that provides a snapshot of how well students are using the English language within the school context. This English language proficiency assessment for students in K-12 is used to monitor a student’s progress in acquiring English for the academic environment, to plan support for continuing English language development, and to satisfy legal requirements for assessment and accountability.

Keystone Exams are end–of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in academic content. They measure the Pennsylvania Common Core Standards. Students must demonstrate proficiency in Algebra 1, Literature, and Biology in order to graduate. Students have multiple opportunities to take these exams during their middle and high school years. The Keystones will eventually replace PSSA.

Under Pennsylvania State Law, the school district is unable to grant a general request to have a child excused from taking a state assessment.

Religious Objection

Chapter 4  provides for the right of any parents/guardians to excuse his/her child from the assessment if, upon inspection of the testing materials, he/she finds the assessment to be in conflict with his/her religious beliefs. This is the only basis under Chapter 4 rules for parent/guardian to excuse his or her child from statewide assessments.

Requests for a student to be to be excused based on religious beliefs from testing, cannot be accepted from parents/guardians that have not previewed the assessment materials.

Prior to the assessment dates, parents/guardians may contact their child's school to review the assessments from the time of receipt through the end of the testing window.

• The assessment must be reviewed on district property and district personnel must be present at all times.
• The school will provide a secure place for the parents/guardians to view the assessments.
• The parents/guardians must sign a Parent Confidentiality Agreement prior to reviewing the assessment.
• The parents/guardians may not photocopy, write down, or in any other manner record any portion of the assessments, including directions.

If after reviewing the assessment, parents/guardians find the test to be in conflict with their religious beliefs and wish their student(s) to be excused from the test, the parents/guardians must provide a written request to excuse the child based on religious beliefs. The written objection must be addressed to the Superintendent, but submitted directly to the building principal.

If the student is excused from the state assessment due to parent or guardian request, school personnel will provide a alternative learning environment (this may include the administration of a local assessment) for the student throughout the assessment window.

Students who do not participate in the assessment due to parent or guardian request will negatively affect the school's participation rate and can potentially have a negative impact on the school's accountability status.

Medical Exemption

Generally, if a student can receive instruction, then they are also able to participate in state assessments; however, the health and well-being of students should take priority in determining whether they can participate. 

Students may receive a medical exemption if they cannot participate in a state assessment during the testing window, including make-up dates, due to a significant medical event. Examples include, but are not limited to, a student who is 1) receiving short-term medical treatment due to a medical emergency; or 2) seriously ill or has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving instruction during the testing window.

For more information on Medical Exemptions from State Assessments, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.

Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) are a set of online assessments designed to measure specific student strengths, areas of need, skills, and knowledge throughout the school year to help guide instruction and intervention. The online assessments are available for students in grades 6-high school and are fully aligned with the Standards Aligned System (SAS). The assessments are based on content covered by the Keystone exams and the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments.

Acadience Reading is a benchmark and progress monitoring assessment that is used to help identify students who have or have not secured foundational reading skills. The data is used to inform instruction and MTSS support.
 
Acadience Math is a benchmark and progress monitoring assessment that is used to help identify students who have or have not secured foundational math skills. The data is used to inform instruction and MTSS support.

Educational Records Bureau, Writing Assessment Program (ERB WrAP) is a comprehensive approach to evaluating writing. It is scored analytically across 6 traits using a 6-point rubric. It is a direct measure based on standardized prompts and evaluated by 2 writing experts. It includes grammar and writing conventions. There are 5 level s of testing which vary by grade level but include narrative, information/description, expository, persuasive, and critical thinking.

The Star Assessments provide valid and reliable benchmark and progress monitoring information regarding a student’s achievement and growth towards academic standards in reading and math. The Star assessments are taken on a computer and the questions will adapt based on each individual student’s responses. The data is used to inform instruction and MTSS support.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are rigorous, multiple-component tests that are administered at high schools each May. High school students can earn college credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores. Each AP Exam has a corresponding AP course and provides a standardized measure of what students have learned in the AP classroom.

Preliminary SAT (PSAT) is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. PSAT is given to students in grade 9, 10, and 11. It measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills. Students receive feedback on their strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study/ PSAT also serves as a qualifier for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for students in grade 11.

The SAT and SAT Subject Tests are a suite of tools designed to assess your academic readiness for college. These exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support, and scholarships, in a way that's fair to all students. The SAT and SAT Subject Tests keep pace with what colleges are looking for today, measuring the skills required for success in the 21st century. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school, and almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admission decisions.