It’s that time of year again! State testing season is upon us. As such, we want to share with you the value of state testing by exploring its importance and benefits. We also want to provide you with information on how state testing works at PALCS. Our goal is for all our students and families to head into this time confident and stress-free.
Why Does State Testing Matter?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) uses standardized assessment results to gauge state-wide student learning and school performance. This data is then used to make informed decisions about education policy, including curriculum and programming. Because of this, the PDE requires all public schools to have a 95% participation rate in state testing. With this mandate, the PDE can ensure all populations of students are represented in the test results, and therefore, more equitable decisions can be made.
What are the Benefits of State Testing?
State testing boasts numerous benefits, both for PALCS and for students.
Student Support
State testing informs student support. The results and data received from state testing gives insight into how our students are performing in certain areas. This information gives us a better understanding of what supports, programs, instructional tools, educational technologies, etc. should be invested in. By doing this, PALCS can ensure the unique needs of our students are prioritized and met.
Academic Proficiency
State testing results show student proficiency in core competencies. Again, this information is extremely valuable to PALCS administrators when it comes to understanding student needs. The PDE also factors this data into decision making about educational standards and methods at the state level.
Testing Experience
Participation in state testing provides valuable testing experience for students. Throughout their academic careers, students are likely to take a countless amount of standardized tests. This includes anything from the AP exams and SAT/ACTs to medical, law, or graduate school admission tests to certifying exams like the NOCTI or NCLEX. Participation in state assessments makes students more comfortable with test taking and more confident in their abilities.
Socialization
Because state testing occurs on-site, it is a valuable socialization experience for our students. They have the opportunity to meet some of their teachers, as well as classmates and peers local to them. Student feedback year after year proves this is their favorite part of state testing.
How Does State Testing Work at PALCS?
Meet and Greets
To reduce student stress around state testing, we have implemented Meet and Greets. At PALCS, we offer informal “Meet and Greet” sessions with teachers via Zoom to prepare students for testing. While completely optional, these sessions are a great way for students to learn more about what to expect during state testing. This includes information about the teachers proctoring their exams, as well as their testing site. Students tend to find participation in these sessions makes them less nervous heading into the week of testing.
Accessibility
Every year to prepare for state testing, we map out where all our students are located. This information is then used to find the best locations for testing sites across the state. The goal is to reduce the impact of travel time on families and remove barriers to participation. Students are not required to bring any testing materials as everything they need will be provided by the PALCS Testing department. The Testing department also offers makeup testing days in our West Chester and Pittsburgh offices for students who were unable to attend during the regularly scheduled days.
Accommodations
In partnership with the PALCS Special Education team, the Testing department ensures any necessary student accommodations are met. All accommodations are student-specific and based on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Some common accommodations include small group testing, read-aloud testing, and preferential time of testing. Additionally, snacks and drinks are provided to all students throughout the day during testing breaks.
When is 2025 State Testing?
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSAs)
The PSSAs are the state assessment for grades 3-8. This year, they are scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 – Friday, May 2, 2025. Makeup days will be the following week on May 5 – May 9, 2025.
Keystone Exams
The Keystone Exams are the state assessment for grades 9-11. This year, they are scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 – Friday, May 16, 2025. Makeup days will be the following week on May 19 – May 23, 2025.
Winging It: State Testing Q&A
To learn more about state testing, check out this episode of Winging It where we sit down with PALCS leaders to answer frequently asked questions. With the PSSAs and Keystones coming up, this episode is a must-listen for students and parents alike!
If you want to learn more about state testing in cyber schools, contact us today!
