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STANDARDIZED TESTING
At PA Virtual, Pennsylvania assessments are conducted at a variety of sites around the state to accommodate our families’ geographic region. Efforts are made to locate a testing site within an hour of your home. In certain cases, it may be necessary to travel longer than an hour. These tests are given over a one- to four-day period depending on the student’s grade level and state testing requirements.
Specific testing dates and locations are published no later than two weeks prior to the testing window.
Parents or guardians do have the right to have their children excused from specific instructions or testing that conflict with their religious beliefs. Parents or guardians must submit a written request to the building Principal to initiate the opt-out procedures.
PSSA Testing
The PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) is a paper and pencil evaluation given to students, third through eighth grade (3-8), enrolled in a government-funded school in Pennsylvania. The test reveals cumulative and individual scores that determine progress by students, teachers, schools and districts statewide. These tests are comprised of assessments in English Language Arts, Math and Science, and the scores are used to locate those needing additional support and resources.
PSSA Test Window 2023-2024
April 22 – May 10
PSSA Testing Window: https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/PSSA/Pages/TestingWindows.aspx
KEYSTONE EXAMS
The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in various subjects. During the school year the following Keystone Exams are available: Algebra I, Literature and Biology.
Keystone Exam Test Windows 2023-2024
Winter: December 4 - 15, 2023
Spring: May 13 - 24, 2024
Keystone Testing Window: https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Keystones/Pages/KeystoneTestingWindow.aspx
Testing Attendance Policy
PA Virtual, a Pennsylvania public school, must abide by the procedures established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education regarding PSSA and Keystone exams. The state assessments require travel to and from the selected testing site. Travel to PSSA and Keystone testing locations is the responsibility of the guardian. To assist with travel costs to the PA Virtual testing site locations, each family that attends will receive a $20.00 travel stipend (after the testing site is held, the site attendance will be submitted to our finance department to issue payment). Parents who wish to opt their child out of state testing under Chapter 4 for religious reasons can submit a request to their student’s Principal to review the assessments to determine if the assessment conflicts with the parents’/guardians’ religious beliefs. Parent/Guardian requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the administration of the state assessment. During the on-site review, PA Virtual will protect the validity and integrity of the state assessments. If, after review, the parent/guardian finds the assessment to be in conflict with their religious beliefs, they have the right to submit a written request to the CEO for exemption, stating their objection.
Testing Requirements:
All public school students enrolled in grades 3 through 8 are required to participate in the English Language Arts and Mathematics PSSA assessments.
All public school students enrolled in grades 4 and 8 are required to participate in the Science PSSA assessments.
All Keystone eligible public school students must participate in Keystone testing.
Absent from Testing:
Parents/guardians must contact their site coordinator to inform the school of the absence and provide the valid excuse. Site coordinators work with families to accommodate the situation.
If a student is absent from their testing site and the parent has not provided a legal excuse for the absence from the testing site, the student is expected to follow their schedule and be in attendance according to the daily and class attendance policies listed in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.
For High School students who do not partake in Keystone testing, an alternative pathway to graduation must be submitted and approved by the High School administration.
School Code:
According to PDE, a medical emergency “applies to rare circumstances in which a student cannot take or finish taking the assessment during the entire testing window, including make-up dates, due to a recent significant medical emergency.”
A “medical emergency” can only be approved by a Principal.
If the “medical emergency” is not approved by a Principal, it must be logged as an unexcused absence.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TEST TAKERS:
DO...
Get a good night’s sleep.
Eat a good breakfast.
Listen to, read, and follow all directions given.
Ask questions if you do not understand the directions.
Read each question carefully, especially multiple-choice items that ask for the “best answer.” Also, be sure to read any open-ended items and writing prompts carefully before responding.
Be careful when marking your answers so that you do not skip spaces or fill in the wrong sections.
Make sure to completely fill in the bubble for the answer you select and erase completely any answers you change.
Keep your eyes on your own test.
Try to answer each test item.
Check that you have completed all the test items in the test section before closing your test booklet or submitting your final responses online.
Report any suspected cheating to your teacher or principal.
DO NOT...
Bring notes with you to the test.
Bring any electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, smart phones, etc.) other than an approved calculator, if applicable, to the test.
Share a calculator with others.
Use the bubbles in the answer booklet to either eliminate possible incorrect answers or possible correct answers. Mark only the bubble for the one correct answer you have chosen.
Talk with others about questions on the test during or after the test.
Take notes about the test to share with others.
Leave an online test session until the session is complete or until instructed to do so.
Use social media to post information about the test and/or test items.
Reminders for all PA Virtual Testing Sites:
All PA Virtual events are weapon, drug, and tobacco free.
Shoes must be worn at all times.
Pets should never be brought to PA Virtual events.
To limit the spread of possible flu, please do not attend a PA Virtual event if you have had a fever within 24 hours of the event.
In consideration of our students with allergies, please refrain from bringing balloons or food containing nut products.
Emergency Information Form:
For your student's safety, we must have an updated Emergency Information Form for all students attending a testing location.
STUDENTS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES
Food allergies can be life threatening. The risk of accidental exposure to foods can be reduced in the school setting if schools work with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks and provide a safe educational environment for food-allergic students.
Family’s Responsibility
· Notify the school of the child’s allergies.
· Work with the school team to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school including in the classroom, at state testing and during school-sponsored activities, as well as a Food Allergy Action Plan.
· Provide written medical documentation, instructions, and medications as directed by a physician
· Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.
· Educate the child in the self-management of their food allergy including:
safe and unsafe foods
strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods
symptoms of allergic reactions
how and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related problem
how to read food labels (age appropriate)
School’s Responsibility
· Be knowledgeable about and follow applicable federal laws including ADA, IDEA, Section 504, and FERPA and any state laws or district policies that apply.
· Review the health records submitted by parents and physicians.
· Include food-allergic students in school activities. Students are not excluded from school activities solely based on their food allergy.
· Work with parents and the student (age appropriate) to establish a prevention plan. Changes to the prevention plan to promote food allergy management should be made with core team participation.
· Ensure all staff who interact with the student on a regular basis understands food allergy, can recognize symptoms, knows what to do in an emergency, and works with other school staff to eliminate the use of food allergens in the allergic student’s meals, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.
· Practice the Food Allergy Action Plans before an allergic reaction occurs to assure the efficiency/effectiveness of the plans.
· Students are allowed to carry their own epinephrine, if age appropriate after approval from the student’s physician/clinic, parent and school nurse, and allowed by state or local regulations.
· Designate school personnel who are properly trained to administer medications in accordance with the State Nursing and Good Samaritan Laws governing the administration of emergency medications.
· Be prepared to handle a reaction and ensure that there is a staff member available who is properly trained to administer medications during the school day regardless of time or location.
· Review policies/prevention plan with the student's team members, parents/guardians, student (age appropriate), and physician after a reaction has occurred.
· Follow federal/state/district laws and regulations regarding sharing medical information about the student. Take threats or harassment against an allergic child seriously.
Student’s Responsibility
· Should not trade food with others.
· Should not eat anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain any allergen.
· Should be proactive in the care and management of their food allergies and reactions based on their developmental level.
· Should notify an adult immediately if they eat something they believe may contain the food to which they are allergic.
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