1. Getting Ready for the Pennsylvania State Assessments, 2014-2015
Tom Corbett, Governor Carolyn Dumaresq, Acting Secretary
Getting Ready for the Pennsylvania State Assessments,
October 22-23, 2014
>

2. Introduction Contacts
Ray Young, Chief, Division of Instructional Quality;
Jean Dyszel, Project Based Assessment;
Kerry Helm, PSSA ELA/Keystone Literature/ELLs;
Linda Long, ACCESS;
John Machella, PASA;
Drew Schuckman, NAEP;
Diane Simaska, PSSA ELA/Keystone Literature/Accommodations;
Charlie Wayne, PSSA Math/Keystone Algebra I;
Craig Weller, PSSA Science/Keystone Biology;
>

3. Agenda General Information Overview of Statewide Assessments
Resources and Tools
PSSA
Keystone Exams
>

4. General Information Updates PA Accountability System; ra-pas@pa.gov
School Performance Profile (PDE webpage)or PA School Performance Profile (website);
Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS);
Educator Effectiveness System;
>

5. Statewide Assessments
Assessing Communication and Comprehension in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs);
Project Based Assessment (PBA);
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP);
Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA);
>

6. PA Alternate System of Assessment
Enrollment Period: Sept. 29, 2014 – Dec.12, 2014
Math and Reading Test Window: Feb. 16, 2015 – March 27, 2015
Science Test Window May 4, 2015 – May 29, 2015
Writing: No statewide test form; student writing samples are individually created (by teacher) and scored (by teacher) and stored (in IEP folder)
>

7. PA Alternate System of Assessment
Who participates in the PASA?
Grades 3-8 and 11
Students with a significant cognitive disability
>

8. PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Participation Guidelines
IEP teams make assessment decisions
Student must meet all six eligibility criteria
>

9. PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Eligibility Criteria
By September 1 of the school year in which this IEP will be operative, will the student be in grade 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 11?
Yes / No
AND
2. Does the student have significant cognitive disabilities?
3. Does the student require intensive instruction to learn?
>

10. PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Eligibility Criteria(Cont’d)
4. Does the student require extensive adaptation and support in order to perform and/or participate meaningfully and productively in the everyday life activities of integrated school, home, community, and work environments?
Yes / No
AND
5. Does the student require substantial modifications of the general education curriculum?
>

11. PASA Eligibility Criteria(Cont’d)
PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Eligibility Criteria(Cont’d)
Does the student’s participation in the general education curriculum differ substantially in form and/or substance from that of most other students (i.e., different objectives, materials, or activities)?
Yes / No
>

12. PA Alternate System of Assessment
If the answer was “Yes” to all of these questions, it would be appropriate for the IEP team to consider assigning the student to the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA).
If the answer was “No” to any of these questions, the PASA is not the appropriate statewide assessment for the student.
>

13. PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Training Webinars
Jan. 8, 2015
General Test Administration
Jan. 20, 2015
Adaptations for Students with Visual Impairments
Jan. 23, 2015
Adaptations for Students who are Non-Verbal
>

14. PA Alternate System of Assessment
Jan. 5, 2015
Training videos users can work through at any time and at their own pace will also be posted on our PASA Reading and Math training website
and will be available throughout the PASA test window.
>

15. PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Contact Information
Who manages the test?
PASA Project at the University of Pittsburgh:
Dr. Naomi Zigmond – Reading/Math
Dr. Steve Lyon – Science
All test materials are shipped from and returned to PASA Project
>

16. PA Alternate System of Assessment
PASA Information Websites
Enrollment Updates:
General PASA Information:
Science Updates:
QUESTIONS:
Dr. John Machella
(814)
>

17. Resources and Tools eDirect PSSA Testing Calendars
Keystone Exams Testing Calendars
Performance Level Descriptors and Cut Scores (All Grade/Subjects)
Accommodations
Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS)
Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT)
>

18. PSSA Math Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
Mathematics Test Design
Mathematics Item and Scoring Samplers
Scoring Guidelines
Calculator Policy
Assessment Anchors and Glossary
>

19. PSSA Math
>

20. Embedded Field Test based on PCS
PSSA Math
Embedded Field Test based on PCS
Open-ended items scored on a 0-4 scale
Item-specific scoring guidelines but no general rubric
Formula sheets will be provided for grades 4 through 8
See Resource Materials on PDE’s website for the formula sheets and item samplers
>

21. Item Specifics PSSA Math
Multiple choice items based on the Assessment Anchors aligned to the PA Standards. The Eligible Content is considered Assessment Limits.
All items may cross Eligible Content, Descriptors, Anchors and Reporting Categories.
All items align to the Anchor.
Reminder: Have students read all items, especially the open-ended items, carefully and answer exactly what is being asked.
>

22. Item Specifics PSSA Math
Examples of how open-ended items might be phrased:
- Show or explain all your work.
- Show all your work. Explain why you did each step.
- Explain why [something is true or false]
- Describe how [doing something affects
something else; to find something, etc.]
>

23. Open-ended Item Example
PSSA Math
Open-ended Item Example
Roy is running for class president. He polls 50 students. 60 percent of them say they will vote for him.
A. There are 350 students in Roy’s class. Based on his survey, how many students should he expect to vote for him? Show or explain all your work.
B. Roy will sell fruit drinks to raise money for his campaign. A fruit drink cost $0.10 and he sells it for $0.50. How many fruit drinks does Roy need to sell to earn $80? Show all your work. Explain why you did each step.
>

24. Rubric (for sample item only):
PSSA Math
Rubric (for sample item only):
Part A:
- ½ point for correct answer
- 1 point for complete and correct work OR
½ point for correct but incomplete work
Part B:
- 1 point for correct and compete work OR
½ point for correct but incomplete work.
- 1 point for correct and complete explanation.
½ point for correct but incomplete explanation
>

25. Total Points (within) Score (on) 4 4 3-3 ½ 3 2-2 ½ 2 ½-1 ½ 1 0 0
PSSA Math
Rubric Metric
Total Points (within) Score (on)
3-3 ½ 3
2-2 ½ 2
½-1 ½ 1
>

26. Some notes about open-ended items:
PSSA Math
Some notes about open-ended items:
Guess and Check is a valid method but at least two incorrect guesses must be shown to receive full credit.
Not all open-ended items require a “why.”
At least half the score points must come from one Anchor. The rest can come from anywhere else.
>

27. Can have a “blemish” and still get a score of 4
PSSA Math
Can have a “blemish” and still get a score of 4
“e.g. missing $” may or may not be a blemish depending on the item and grade.
If an answer box is given the answer does not have to be in the answer box to receive full credit, but if there is an answer in the answer box it overrides any other answer given.
An incorrect answer carried through correctly will receive full credit for the correct part.
>

28. Protractors will be used only for the grade 4 PSSA.
PSSA Math
Rulers and protractors will be provided where needed (grades 3 and 4 respectively). Students must use the rulers and protractors provided for the PSSA.
Rulers will be used in grade 3 only and will be scaled to the ⅛ inch and millimeter. Students will be required to measure to the ¼ inch and centimeter.
Protractors will be used only for the grade 4 PSSA.
>

29. Cannot use calculators. Answers marked in test booklet.
PSSA Math
Grade 3
Cannot use calculators.
Answers marked in test booklet.
Grade 4 and up:
Calculators are permitted on all but the beginning few items.
>

30. PSSA ELA Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
English Language Arts (ELA) Test Design
English Language Arts (ELA) Item and Scoring Samplers
Scoring Guidelines
Assessment Anchors and Glossary
>

31. PSSA Science Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
Science Test Design
Science Item and Scoring Samplers
Scoring Guidelines
Assessment Anchors and Glossary
>

32. Keystone Exams Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS) Test Design
Assessment Anchors/Eligible Content
Item and Scoring Samplers
Scoring Guidelines
>

33. For more information on Getting Ready for the State Assessments please visit PDE’s website at
The mission of the department is to academically prepare children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. The department seeks to ensure that the technical support, resources and opportunities are in place for all students, whether children or adults, to receive a high quality education.
>