Study after study has indicated that the PSSA doesn't mean much. Yet, the state has taken over school districts based on "low" performance on the PSSA; districts have received extra funding based on "improved" performance on the PSSA; and, students may not be able to graduate based on their scores on the PSSA.
Faced with increasing criticism from both the right and the left, as well as anyone who truly understands education and statistics, the State Board of Education has recently decided to contract for a study to determine if the PSSA even measures the state academic standards. Well, it's about time!! Districts and students have faced dire consequences based on the results of tests which have NEVER been shown to be valid or reliable. What a disgrace!
The links below are to some very well researched studies about the PSSA which call into question the test's reliability, validity and fairness:
PSEA Research Paper--this paper details how the state has manipulated the "cut" scores, causing more students to "fail" the test. Why? In my opinion, this was done to fulfill the Governor's political agenda of taking over certain school districts, and to make the political point that schools aren't doing a good job.This Pennsylvania School Boards Association study details the questions about the PSSA's validity and reliability, whether it actually measures student achievement of standards, fairness issues, invalid uses of PSSA data by the state, and other important issues.
We've also heard a lot about teacher tests. A test was given to Pennsylvania teachers to determine, supposedly, their grasp of subject matter and their ability to teach. This Keystone Research Center study shows that this test does not measure an ability to teach, is not statistically valid, has no objective standard, and is scored in a manner which guarantees that half of all teachers will fail.