PSSA

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s response to federal educational policy and the accompanying accountability mandates is to require public school districts to administer two types of high stakes, standards-based, criterion-referenced assessments: the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and the Keystone Exams.  

The PSSA is administered annually to students in grades 3 through 8 in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics every spring.  Students are also assessed in science in grades 4 and 8 after the ELA and mathematics test administration. The content of the PSSA assessments is aligned with the PA Core Standards; test items assess what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade level.  The overall score of the assessment determines the proficiency level (below basic, basic, proficient, or advanced) for each student.  Because students are assessed annually, they are not required or permitted to retake PSSA assessments.