Changes To Standardized Testing Coming For PA Students

Some big changes have been announced for standardized testing in Pennsylvania.

Starting next school year, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) will be condensed from three weeks to two weeks, Gov. Wolf announced Wednesday.

In addition to the shortened duration, students will take the test later in the school year in an effort to ease stress and provide extra time to learn, Wolf's office said in an announcement.

The changes build on PSSA scheduling shifts implemented for this school year, when two sections of the test were removed, and questions were reduced in other portions.

“We are continuing to respond to the concerns of students, parents and teachers about the amount of classroom time spent of standardized tests,” said Governor Wolf at an event at Colonial Middle School in Montgomery County. “After reducing the classroom time devoted to the PSSA and moving the test window to later in the school year, students and teachers will have more classroom time to focus on learning before taking the test.”

Since school districts have already established their school calendar the new testing window will begin with the 2018-19 school year.

Teachers at Wednesday's event applauded the changes, calling it "a step in the right direction."

"Moving the assessments later in the year will allow students more time to master grade level curriculum. I appreciate that the feedback provided from educators across the state has been heard, valued, and acted upon," said Sally Matthews, a seventh grade math teacher at Colonial Middle School.

State officials say they hope the changes will address concerns raised about the need to refocus on learning, instead of testing.

'The Department of Education worked with experts and stakeholders to improve the PSSA and ensure the exams maintain rigor. Since standardized tests can interrupt learning and can be disruptive for students, even those in non-tested grades, the Department will continue to identify ways to further reduce those disruptions in coming years," the announcement from the state said.

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