When are students tested? 1
5th grade
6th grade
8th grade
9th grade
11th grade
What subjects are tested? 1
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
What types of questions are used? 1
Multiple choice
Extended written response
How are test results used? 1
Student diagnosis
Curriculum planning
Improvement of instruction
School performance reporting
What tests are used? 1
Reading and mathematics assessment (grades 5, 8, 11)
Writing assessment (grades 6, 9)
Are students with disabilities exempt?
2, 3
Exemptions given as determined by IEP team (i.e.,
to students with life-skills curriculum or to students experiencing
emotional stress caused by test).
Any parent (with or without a disabled child) can request exemption.
What accommodations are available so
that students with disabilities can participate? 2
List of accommodations approved by state Department of Education (list
is not exhaustive).
Accommodations used during instructional process, as recommended by
IEP team.
How are scores of students with disabilities
reported? 2
School, district, and statewide reports separate ("disaggregate") scores
of students with and without disabilities.
Footnotes:
1 Source: PEER Project Survey to expand and update information from Annual Survey of State Student Assessment Programs: Data on 1995-96 Statewide Student Assessment Programs. (Fall 1996). Council of Chief State School Officers.
2 Source: PEER Project review of state policy documents. Documents provided by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Information confirmed and updated by the PEER Project through direct communication with state officials.
3 NOTE: The IDEA Amendments of 1997 require that all students be included in statewide assessments.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Bureau of Special Education
333 Market Street, Seventh Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
717-783-6913
717-783-6139 Fax
www.cas.psu.edu/pde.html
E-mail addresses are available on web page.
Contact: Dr. William W. Penn, Director, Bureau of Special Education
R. Lee Plempel, Chief, Division of Evaluation and Reports
Pennsylvania Parent Centers on Disability
Parents Union for Public Schools
311 S. Juniper St., Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-546-1166
215-731-1688 Fax
ParentsU@aol.com
Contact: Janet Lonsdale
Parent Education Network
333 East Seventh Avenue
York, PA 17404
717-845-9722 Voice & TTY
1-800-522-5827 in PA
1-800-441-5028 Spanish in PA
717-848-3654 Fax
pen@parentednet.org
www.homepagecreations.com/pen/
Contact: Louise Thieme