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General Information **//What is the PSSA?//** The PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) is a standards-based assessment administered in all Pennsylvania public schools. There are three content-specific assessments including reading, math and writing.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires annual testing in reading and math for all students in grades 3-8 and one high school grade (11th grade in Pennsylvania).
 * //Which grades take the PSSA?//**

The PSSA reading and math assessment has been given annually in grades 5, 8, and 11 since 1998. The grade 3 PSSA reading and math assessment was first administered in 2004-05, and grades 4, 6, and 7 were first added in 2005-06.

The PSSA writing assessment is given in grades 5, 8 and 11 about a month earlier than the reading and math tests. A new writing test was administered for the first time in 2006, so the results aren’t comparable to previous results. **//What do PSSA scores mean?//** Students are identified as performing in one of four levels: advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. The goal is for all students to be proficient or advanced – meaning that they have mastered Pennsylvania’s assessment anchor content standards at their grade level. Individual student scores, provided only to their respective schools and to their families, 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.

The four **performance levels** are broadly defined as:


 * Advanced** – This level reflects superior academic performance. Advanced work indicates an in-depth understanding and exemplary display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.


 * Proficient** - Proficiency reflects satisfactory academic performance. Proficient work indicates a solid understanding and adequate display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.


 * Basic** – This level reflects marginal academic performance. Basic work indicates a partial understanding and limited display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. This work is approaching satisfactory performance, but has not been reached. There is a need for additional instructional opportunities and/or increased student academic commitment to achieve the proficient level.


 * Below Basic** – The lowest level reflects inadequate academic performance. Below basic work indicates little understanding and minimal display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. There is a major need for additional instructional opportunities and/or increased student academic commitment to achieve the proficient level.