22 Pa. Code § 4.51a - Pennsylvania System of School Assessment

(a) All PSSA assessments administered in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering will be standards-based and criterion referenced and include essay or open-ended response items in addition to other item formats. The proportion of type of items will vary by grade level. The criteria for judging performance on PSSA assessments are as follows:

(1) Performance on PSSA English Language Arts assessments shall be demonstrated by students' responses to comprehension questions about age-appropriate reading passages, by their written responses to in-depth comprehension questions about the passages and by the quality of their written compositions on a variety of topics and modes of writing.

(2) Performance on PSSA mathematics assessments shall be demonstrated by students' responses to questions about grade-appropriate content and by the quality of their responses to questions that require a written solution to a problem.

(3) Performance on PSSA science assessments shall be demonstrated by students' responses to grade appropriate content and by the quality of their responses to questions that demonstrate knowledge of each category of the standards for science, environment, ecology, technology and engineering.

(4) Performance levels shall be advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. In consultation with educators, students, parents and citizens, the Department will develop and recommend to the Board for its approval specific criteria for advanced, proficient, basic and below basic levels of performance.

(b) The Department will develop or cause to be developed PSSA assessments based on Pennsylvania Core Standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts under § 4.12 (relating to academic standards) and contained in Appendix A-2. Through June 30, 2025, the Department will develop or cause to be developed PSSA assessments based on academic standards in Science, Technology, Environment and Ecology under § 4.12 and contained in Appendix B. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department will develop or cause to be developed PSSA assessments based on academic standards in Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering under § 4.12 and contained in Appendix B-1. In developing PSSA assessments, the Department will consult with educators, students, parents and citizens regarding the specific methods of assessment.

(c) The PSSA assessments shall be administered annually and include assessments of the State academic standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts at grades 3 through 8, and in Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering at grades 4 and 8. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the PSSA that assesses State academic standards in Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering shall be administered at grade 5 and grade 8 and the PSSA assessment of these standards administered at grade 4 shall be discontinued.

Notes

22 Pa. Code § 4.51a

The provisions of this § 4.51a adopted February 28, 2014, effective 3/1/2014, 44 Pa.B. 1131; amended July 15, 2022, effective 7/16/2022, 52 Pa.B. 3946. Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 55, No. 06. February 8, 2025, effective 2/8/2025

Under § 4.12(a)(2.1), Appendix B, which appears in 22 Pa. Code pages 4-112.36-4-201, serial pages (371216) to (371218), (286565) to (286596), (371219) to (371224), (286599) to (286602), (371225) to (371232), (286605) to (286652) and (410373), expires July 1, 2025, and the Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering (Grades K-5), the Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment and Ecology (Grades 6-12), and the Pennsylvania Technology and Engineering Standards (Grades 6-12) in Appendix B-1 apply on and after that date.

The provisions of this § 4.51a issued under sections 121, 2603-B and 2604-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. §§ 1-121, 26-2603-B and 26-2604-B); amended under sections 2603-B and 2604-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. §§ 26-2603-B and 26-2604B).

This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 4.21 (relating to elementary education: primary and intermediate levels); and 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements).