2007 PSSA Item Samplers

The 2007 Reading, Mathematics, and Writing Item and Scoring Samplers are tools to assist you with your instructional program and the reading, mathematics, and writing assessments. The samplers include test items written to focus on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for writing and the Pennsylvania Assessment Anchor Content Standards (Assessment Anchors) for reading and mathematics. The items in the samplers will not appear on any operation form of the 2007 PSSA; however, they do provide examples of the types of items that will appear on the 2007 reading, mathematics, and writing assessments.

The following are 2007 PSSA Item Samplers:

Students and parents can find resources on this page that can help our students perform at thier highest levels on the PSSA tests. If you have any questions about the PSSA please contact us at webmaster@montroseareasd.k12.pa.us or contact your school building principal using any of the following email links:

• Jim Tallarico - Montrose Area Junior-Senior High School
• Greg Adams - Lathrop Street Elementary School
• Chris McComb - Choconut Valley Elementary School

1. Arts & Humanities FINAL
2. Career Education and Work (in process)
3. Civics and Government FINAL
4. Economics FINAL
5. Environment and Ecology FINAL
6. Family and Consumer Sciences FINAL
7. Geography FINAL
8. Health, Safety and Physical Education FINAL
9. History FINAL
10. Mathematics FINAL
11. Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening FINAL
12. Science and Technology FINAL
13. World Languages (in process)

• PA Department of Education - This is the Pennsylvania Department of Education web site containing all the current final and pending standards for download and review.
• PA State Standards - A resource developed by the state to provide teachers and parents material related to the standards and standards-based teaching. Included are lesson plans, benchmarks and links to other resources.

For additional information on Assessment Anchors and to view the currently available and developing Anchors, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.

While reading, writing and mathematics are currently the focus of PSSA testing, other state standards will ultimately be measured through the PSSA system as well. All students are required to participate in this state testing program, including those students recieving special education services with individualized education plans. A very few students with severe cognitive disabilities are excluded from the PSSA and provided an alternative state-level test called the Pennsylvania Alternate State Assessment (PASA). Certain PSSA testing accomidations are allowed and provided to students as determined by the child's teacher or outlined in the student's IEP. These accomodations might include extra testing time or having the test read aloud.

A student's PSSA score is categorized into one of four possible performance levels:

1. Advanced
   The Advanced Level reflects superior academic performance. Advanced work indicates an in-depth understanding and exemplary display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.
2. Proficient
   The Proficient Level reflects satisfactory academic performance. Proficient work indicates a solid understanding and adequate display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.
3. Basic
   The Basic Level reflects marginal academic performance. Basic work indicates a partial understanding and limited display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. This work is approaching satisfactory performance but has not yet reached it.
4. Below Basic
   The Below Basic Level reflects inadequate academic performance. Below Basic work indicates little understanding and minimal display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.

• Grow Parent Website - The Grow Network comes from the Pa Deptartment of Education in partnership with the PSSA test publisher. There is a wealth of information available for parents regarding the PSSA and tips for helping your child better achieve.
• PSSA Practice Items - These are a series of PSSA sample questions and examples of how these items are evaluated in Math and Reading provided from the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.
• Teacher Resource Materials - Handbooks for teachers containing information concerning the development of the general and specific performance levels, as well as information that will help educators use assessment data with performance levels to significantly impact student achievement in the classroom.
• 03-04 PSSA Results - PSSA scores for all PA schools. Susquehanna county schools can be found in the IU 19 listing. Older PSSA results are also available here.
• 04-05 PSSA Results - PSSA scores for all PA schools. Susquehanna county schools can be found in the IU 19 listing.

When schools fail to meet these expected levels of performance for two consecutive years, they will begin to recieve supports and consequences as they enter into a process called School Improvement. No Montrose Area School District schools are currently in School Improvement. We must, however, continue to work together as parents, educators, students and community to ensure our students progress toward increasing achievement levels and make MASD a model of educational excellence where no child is left behind.

Links for NCLB

• No Child Left Behind in Pennsylvania - From the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• US Department of Education - Information on NCLB from the US Dept of Ed
• SchoolMatters.com - School by school comparisons of Adequate Yearly Progress Data for schools across the country. PA data available.
• Just for the Kids - Another school evaluation website with data for Pennsylvania schools.

07-08 MASD PSSA Test Schedule

	Encourage your child to do his or her best on every assessment. If it is important to you, it will become important to your child.
	Check homework every night. Homework provides a way to identify and work on weak skill areas.
	Discuss your child's academic performance with them. When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.
	Provide a quiet and comfortable study place for your child.
	Communicate with your child's teacher. (MASD teachers use email every day)

• Eat well.
  Studies show that you need good nutrition to concentrate and perform your best.
• Bring the right supplies.
  Bring your pencils, erasers, pens, rulers, compasses, calculators, or whatever else you'll need on test day.
• Review the whole test before you start.
  See how many sections and what types of questions are on the test. Consider how much time to allow for each section, basing your decision on the point value of each. You don't want to spend too much time on a question that counts for only a few points.
• Jot down your first thoughts.
  From your first look at the test, take quick notes on ideas you might forget. For example, you may want to outline your answers to written response and essay questions right away.

• Read the directions. Never assume that you know what the directions say. For example, some questions may have more than one correct answer.
• Answer easy questions first. Answering easier questions may jog your memory about useful facts. You may also come across information that can help you with other questions.
• Answer every question. Unless there's a penalty for wrong answers, it can't hurt to try.
• Ask questions. If a question isn't clear, talk to your teacher. If that's not possible, explain your answer in the margin.
• Identify key words. This will help you focus on the main idea of challenging questions.
• Rephrase difficult questions. To understand questions better, rewrite them in your own words, but be careful not to change the meaning.
• Organize your thoughts before you write. Spend some time organizing your responses to short-answer and essay questions. You'll reduce the time you need to revise.
• Write neatly. Be sure you don't lose points on answers the instructor can't read.
• Use all of the time you're given. If you finish early, don't race out. Use the extra time to proofread and edit your answers.

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Copyright, 2012

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