Why we should get rid of PSSA’s
Solmary Guerrero
Having PSSAs can’t always be beneficial for students.
“I know students and teachers are very anxious when test weeks come about.” “They want to do well but also know we are going to be judged by these results,” states Joseph V. Kristobak, SuperIntendent of the Cornwall-Lebanon school district. Is Pssa’s what we really need?
I think we shouldn’t have the standardized test because it’s sometimes stressful to students.If you think about it, It just another stressful thing to add on the list of what students go through like getting up early and getting enough sleep or not being able to eat breakfast because they might be late for school. Then you must take a 2-3 hour test.Over 50 percent of students taking the test must score “advanced” or “proficient” for the school to be considered successful.
Last year, statewide,539 out of 2,569 schools - about one in five - failed to make adequate yearly progress.It’s clear that Pssa’s are actually hurting our students.why is this still happening?
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A building’s test scores do weigh heavily on its School Performance Profile rating, which is used as a measuring stick when comparing schools. PSSA results also impact teacher evaluations.According to a news article, Times news, It states that Fellow fourth-grade teacher Melanie Dillman said while teachers know they’re gearing the curriculum to the PSSA tests, they don’t specify it that way for students.We don’t say we’re doing PSSA preparation right now,” Dillman explained. “You don’t want students to feel overwhelmed. We feel the pressure as teachers. The students, I hope they don’t feel it as much. Our team here tries to take that pressure away.” Teachers try to comfort students as they go through the testing process while trying to endure Pssa’s