Assessment

Student assessments provide valuable information on student learning and effectiveness of school programs. Outcome assessments provide information relevant to how students are progressing in comparison to grade level peers and established standards and/or benchmarks. Screening and diagnostic assessments provide the additional information to assist in program refinement and instructional intervention. Progress monitoring provides data on student movement toward instructional targets and guide day-to-day instruction. Specifically, assessments are designed to determine the students' abilities and needs in relevant aspects of the curriculum and instruction. Educators need this essential tool to guide day-to-day instruction and to make relevant program adjustments.

"What" is assessed, "how" it is assessed, and "who" is assessed are questions school leaders face and must respond to everyday. Classroom assessment practices, district-wide assessment programs, and state assessment programs all fall under the jurisdiction of the local school administrator. School leaders must be up-to-date about changes to statewide assessment. Recent changes in assessment include:

• The release of assessment anchors
• Involvement in the Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS)
• PSSA administration in additional grades
• A new accommodations booklet

IEP teams need to make the decision whether a student with a disability will take the PSSA with or without accommodations, or whether the alternate assessment (PASA) is appropriate for the student. An assessment accommodations booklet has been revised to guide this decision making.