Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) called on the Pennsylvania Department of Education to release the scores of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) for students throughout the state.
The test, which is a “standards-based, criterion-referenced assessment which provides students, parents, educators and citizens with an understanding of student and school performance related to the attainment of proficiency of the academic standards,” measures scores in English language arts, mathematics, and science and technology.
Cutler and Representative Curt Sonney (R-Erie), chair of the House Education Committee, detailed how the results from last spring will provide insights to the impact of the coronavirus on education.
“The release of PSSA test results is important to this legislative body, as the results are used for a variety of public policy purposes, including the relevant budgeting and allocation of resources as well as the determination of revisions to state education laws. The 2022-2023 budget process has begun, but without the test data we are at great disadvantage in formulating an education plan that provides targeted support for those students and schools who may have been greatly impacted by the pandemic,” a letter from the duo said.
Earlier, the leaders of the agency detailed that the results of the exam would be delayed. While the scores have not been provided to the lawmakers, Cutler and Sonney explained that “individual results of the PSSA tests have been released to students and parents.”
“Parents in every corner of the commonwealth have concerns over what months of interrupted learning have truly meant for their children’s future,” Cutler added in a statement. “Part of that answer is in this data. The longer we wait for it to be published, the more questions will swirl over why it’s being delayed. I want to thank Chairman Sonney for shining a light on this issue.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bryan Cutler” by PA State Rep. Bryan Cutler. Background Photo “Classroom” by Wokandapix.
