State Tests Around the Corner

There are less than 20 days until the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests. Dickson Elementary has been extremely focused all year – in fact, since last April after the last PSSAs -- on these very important exams. 

The PSSAs are the state’s method to test if students are learning at an adequate pace and are able to achieve standardized benchmarks. In accordance with No Child Left Behind and Woodland Hills School District policies, all Dickson students in grades three through six must take the PSSA exams to demonstrate proficiency in mathematics and reading. Students in 5th grade must take the writing PSSA and 4th graders take the science PSSA.

After students take the tests, they are placed into one of the four performance levels based on specific criteria in each of the academic areas.  These four levels are:

• Advanced – reflects superior academic performance; advanced work indicates in-depth understanding and exemplary display of skills.
• Proficient – reflects satisfactory academic performance; proficient work indicates a solid understanding and adequate display of skills.
• Basic – reflects marginal academic performance; basic work indicates a partial understanding and limited display of skills.
• Below Basic – reflects inadequate academic performance; below basic work indicates little understanding and minimal display of skills.

Individual student scores can be used by teachers to identify students who may be in need of additional educational assistance. School scores can be used by schools and districts for curriculum and instructional improvement.

The overall goal of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is increased student achievement and to have every student score at the advanced and proficient level by the year 2014.  

Every year, all Pennsylvania schools are expected to make adequate yearly progress (AYP).  The AYP is part of the Pennsylvania Accountability Plan, which was developed in compliance with NCLB. AYP is a way to measure student achievement and school improvement.

The performance indicators or measurements for AYP are:

• Targeted achievement scores in reading and math using the PSSA. These targeted PSSA scores will be increased until 2014 when the ultimate goal is 100 percent of the students proficient or advanced.
• High participation (95 percent) in the PSSA tests.
• Improvement in attendance rate at the elementary/middle school level and graduation rate at the high school level.

These expectations apply not only to the school and district as a whole, but also to the performance of sub groups, including racial/ethnic students, economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and students whose English is a second language. Another goal of NCLB is to close the achievement gap between minority and disadvantaged students and their peers.

Parents play a vital role in student achievement on the PSSAs and their children's daily success in school. Parents can help their children prepare for the PSSAs by checking homework, communicating with the teachers, and reading to and/or with their children every day. 

During the weeks of the tests, parents can also encourage the following test-taking tips for their children.

• Be well rested for each day of the test.
• Be prepared to work.
• Be on time every day.
• Eat a good breakfast. (Dickson offers free breakfast daily for every student.)
• Listen to all instructions before each section of the tests.
• Read all directions for each section.
• If you finish early, check your answers.
• Work to the best of your ability.           
• Think positively. You’ve been working hard all year and you can do it!
• Remember that Dickson Elementary School is proud of you.

To encourage our students to do their best, Dickson Elementary School sponsors a special incentive program during the PSSAs. Each student earns raffle tickets for being on time and in class ready for the test, and for working hard and seriously during the exams. The raffle tickets are pulled during lunch periods for such prizes as gift certificates, art supplies, electronics, games, sports balls, etc.  The grand prizes are a boy’s and a girl’s bicycle.

Good luck this year!