Paraprofessionals and the PSSA

Terms

• PSSA-Pennsylvania System of School Assessment• PASA- Pennsylvania Alternate System of

Assessment• PSSA-M (modified version of PSSA for some

special needs students) – no longer in effect this year

• Keystones- end of course assessment that replaced 11th grade PSSA’s

PSSA

• Who takes the PSSA’s– All students in grades 3 through 8 take Reading

and Math– 4th and 8th grade also take Science– *Only exceptions are those taking the PASA or

those students who have been excused due to religious exemption.

PASA

• Alternate Assessment for students in grades 3-8 and 11

• Only 1% of our total population should be taking the PASA

• Designed for students who work on alternate curriculum standards

What you should know about the PASA…

• Video taped or transcribed (IEP determination)

• Involves a lot of materials preparation• Important that the students do as much as

possible with the LEAST AMOUNT OF PROMPTING

Why are the PSSA’s so important?

• These tests show how our students are doing compared to other grade level students across the state.

• AYP- Adequate Yearly Progress• We are starting to see a lot more focus on how the

district does on the PSSA testing (ie: administrator and future teacher evaluations will include a section on AYP)

• Keystones- 2017 graduation requirement for students• Funding is related to our PSSA status

How are the scores calculated…

• Each student’s score is attributed back to their home school building

• Ex: Not all students with an IEP at Dunbar Township are counted in Dunbar Township’s scores

Subgroups

• Each building is scored through individual “subgroups”– IEP – Economically Disadvantaged

– * Subgroup must consist of 40 or more

The Support Professional’s Role in State Testing

Assignments

• You will not be assigned to administer the test• Your building principal will assign your specific

role on test days– Helping with students in grades that are not taking

the tests– Assisting with hallway and bathroom procedures– PSA’s may be assisting in the small group testing

rooms

Before Test Day

• Encourage the students to realize that these tests are important - they need to try their best!

• If the student(s) you are working with will be testing in a separate room, know this ahead of time. Prepare the student for the schedule.

• Encourage them to get enough sleep and eat a good healthy breakfast on those mornings

• When our day starts off on a positive note, we are more likely to perform better!

Test Security

• All staff must understand that the tests and related materials are to be kept secure.

• *You may be asked to sign the test security page by your building principal

DO NOT…

Reveal, copy, review or provide students with any part of the test.

Instruct students to mark more than one response to a testing bubble.

Provide coaching or feedback

Assist in, direct, aid, counsel, encourage, orFail to report improper actions

Clarify words, stimulus passages, orMath that could cue the answer

DO NOT…Discuss, disseminate, or reveal contents of the test to anyone.

Possess secure test materials any time other than the authorized test date.

Leave students unattended or permit students to leave test area with test materials.

Review student answer responses in the answer Booklets

Provide feedback to students

Reminder…

You DO NOT have to take the online tutorial and test regarding PSSA

You DO have to sign the test security affirmation if your principal asks you to.

Reminder

• Your timesheet for today should reflect…• Your recorded training hours today will

reflect…

6 Hours

Reminder….

• This powerpoint will be uploaded to the CASD website

• Under Support Professional Tab