NOTICES
STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION
Approval of PSSA Performance Level Cut Scores
[37 Pa.B. 3349]
[Saturday, July 14, 2007]At a special public meeting held June 15, 2007, the State Board of Education (Board) approved new Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) performance level cut scores for the third grade PSSA recommended to the Board by the Department of Education (Department). The approved performance level cut scores are based upon the recommendations of teachers and administrative staff who participated in a workshop facilitated by the Department's assessment contractor.
The performance level cut scores in reading and mathematics for grade 3 were developed on account of a change in the Department's assessment contractor and refinements made to the test designed to improve its alignment with the assessment anchors and PSSA reading and mathematics tests administered in grades 4 through 8 and 11.
The Board action was taken under general authority granted to it by the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §§ 1-101--27-2702) and in accordance with specific provisions of the Board's regulations codified at 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4 (relating to academic standards and assessment). The approved PSSA performance level cut scores are described infra in the Appendix.
Background
Published at 29 Pa.B. 399 (January 16, 1999), the regulations of the Board now codified at 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4 ''establish rigorous academic standards and assessments to facilitate the improvement of student achievement and to provide parents and communities a measure by which school performance can be determined.'' See 22 Pa. Code § 4.2 (relating to purpose). To help accomplish these goals, the Board established in Chapter 4 a State assessment system. The State assessment system is designed specifically to accomplish the following purposes:
(1) Provide students, parents, educators and citizens with an understanding of student and school performance.
(2) Determine the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of academic standards under § 4.12 (relating to academic standards).
(3) Provide results to school districts, including charter schools, and AVTSs for consideration in the development of strategic plans under § 4.13 (relating to strategic plans).
(4) Provide information to State policymakers including the General Assembly and the Board on how effective schools are in promoting and demonstrating student proficiency of academic standards.
(5) Provide information to the general public on school performance.
(6) Provide results to school districts, including charter schools, and AVTSs based upon the aggregate performance of all students, for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and for those without an IEP. See 22 Pa. Code § 4.51(a) (relating to State assessment system).
As prescribed by the regulations, the criteria for judging performance on State assessments are the following:
(1) Performance on State reading assessments shall be demonstrated by students' responses to comprehension questions about age-appropriate reading passages and by their written responses to in-depth comprehension questions about the passages.
(2) Performance on State mathematics assessments shall be demonstrated by students' responses to questions about grade-appropriate content and by the quality of their responses to questions which require a written solution to a problem.
Under the regulations, it is the responsibility of the Department to develop State assessments ''based on academic standards in mathematics, reading and writing under § 4.12 (relating to academic standards).'' See 22 Pa. Code § 4.51(c). In developing assessments, the Department is required ''to consult with educators, students, parents and citizens regarding the specific methods of assessment.'' Individual test results from the assessment are to be used in planning instruction ''only by parents, teachers, administrators and guidance counselors with a need to know based upon local board policy on testing and in reporting academic progress.'' Id.
The State assessments must be administered annually and include assessments of the State academic standards in mathematics and reading at grades 3 through 8 and 11 and in writing at grades 5, 8 and 11. See 22 Pa. Code § 4.51(d) and § 403.3(d) (relating to single accountability system). The Secretary of Education has the authority to establish guidelines for the administration of the State assessment system. See 22 Pa. Code § 4.51(h).
The performance level cut scores and performance level descriptors for reading and mathematics in grades 5, 8 and 11 were first established and published at 31 Pa.B. 2763 (May 26, 2001). The performance level descriptors and performance level cut scores were updated and revised for reading and mathematics in grades 5, 8 and 11 and newly established for grade 3 in June and September 2005. These revisions were published at 35 Pa.B. 5442 (October 1, 2005). The performance level descriptors and performance level cut scores for grades 4, 6 and 7 in reading and mathematics were established in July 2006. They were published at 36 Pa.B. 3934 (July 22, 2006).
Development and Approval of Scores
As part of the State assessment system established by the regulations, the Board delegated to the Department the very important task of developing specific criteria for each of the performance levels prescribed by § 4.51 (b)(4)--advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. Specifically, the Department is directed by the regulations to ''consult with educators, students, parents and citizens,'' and then to ''develop and recommend to the Board for its approval specific criteria for each performance level.'' Id.
As reported to the Board at its June 15, 2007 meeting, the Department met with educators from across this Commonwealth to assist the Department in developing the performance levels descriptors and scores. Based on these efforts as described in detail for the Board at its meeting, the Department recommended the performance level descriptors and scores that the Board ultimately adopted at its June 15, 2007, meeting. Before adopting the performance level descriptors and scores on June 15, 2007, the Board provided members of the public in attendance with the opportunity to comment on the Department's recommendation.
The approved performance levels (as they appear infra) will be applied to the 2007 PSSA test scores, which will be publicly released in September 2007. The Department and the Board will review the descriptors and scores periodically based on actual experience in using them and consider revisions as appropriate, using the same process prescribed by § 4.51(b)(4).
Persons with questions or needing additional information regarding the Board's approval of these performance level cut scores may contact Jim Buckheit, Executive Director, State Board of Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333, (717) 787-3787 or TDD (717) 787-7367. Persons with questions or needing additional information regarding the development and implementation of them should contact Dr. Shula Nedley, Director, Bureau of Assessment and Accountability, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333, (717) 705-2343 or TDD (717) 787-7367.
JIM BUCKHEIT,
Executive Director
Appendix PSSA Performance Level Cut Scores, as approved by the State Board of Education, are as follows:
Performance Level Cut Scores
Grade 3
Reading Mathematics Advanced 1442 and up 1370 and up Proficient 1235-1441 1180-1369 Basic 1168-1234 1044-1179 Below Basic 1167 and below 1043 and below
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 07-1270. Filed for public inspection July 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m.]
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