Frequently Asked Questions

Many students and parents come into third grade with questions about the PSSAs. Please check out these FAQs and feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have.

What are the PSSAs?

PSSA stands for Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Pennsylvania students participate in the PSSAs in grades 3 through 8. In third grade, children take the PSSAs in English Language Arts (reading, writing, grammar) and Mathematics, and the subject matter expands in later grades.

In April, there are typically 3 days of one week scheduled for ELA PSSAs and 2 days of a following week dedicated to the Mathematics segment. During these weeks, we make sure the children have fun, relaxing school experiences in addition to taking the exam.

Why do students take the PSSAs?

The PSSAs are used to measure students' progress towards meeting today's rigorous academic standards. The assessment results also help schools and teachers make educational decisions. The score is not used against your child in any way. However, your child's PSSA performance may be used as one of several factors to determine if your child might benefit from extra support in ELA or mathematics in fourth grade.

How are the PSSAs scored?

Your child will receive separate Math and ELA scores. The score levels are as follows. Our goal at McKean is for all students to score at the Proficient or Advanced level.

• Below basic: Demonstrates inadequate understanding of the standards
• Basic: Demonstrates a basic understanding of the standards
• Proficient: Demonstrates a grade-level understanding of the standards
• Advanced: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of grade-level standards

When do parents find out their child's PSSA scores?

PSSA score reports are typically sent home to families in late August/early September.

Can my child be retained or "held back" based on his or her PSSA scores?

This is something the students ask every year, and the answer is no! A child being held back depends on a number of factors and consideration of what's best for the student. Since the PSSA is only a snapshot of a child's ability at a particular time, it would be completely unreasonable to hold a child back based on this single assessment. Please assure your child that, while it is important to always do one's best work on any assessment or assignment, there is no reason to stress about the PSSAs.

How can I help my child prepare for the PSSAs?

Beginning in early March, all third grade teachers will send home a PSSA Review Packet with your child. This packet is optional yet HIGHLY encouraged as it contains examples of Math and ELA PSSA questions. In addition to earning great classroom prizes for completing packet pages, doing the packet should build your child's confidence before taking the test and provide a review of first, second, and third grade material.

Please help your child relax before the PSSAs. Ensure that he or she gets a good night's sleep prior to the testing dates and eats a healthy breakfast. If possible, you may also wish to reward him/her for the extra hard work put in during the testing weeks!

Where can I find more information about the PSSAs?

Please visit https://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#tab-1 for more information. You may also contact Miss Lomazzo or Mr. Getz with questions and concerns.