PSSA Hot Seat

From the Inquirer.

PSSAs put kids, schools on hot seat
By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Write. Posted on Sun, Mar. 15, 2009

Fourth grader Maurice Daniels knows why tomorrow is a big, big day.

"It's the PSSAs," said Maurice, 9, a fourth grader at John Welsh Elementary in North Philadelphia. "It's really important. We've practiced for a long time, and it shows how many skills you know, how good your school is."

Around the state, thousands of third through eighth graders, plus 11th graders, will spend the next several days taking their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams in math and reading. Beginning next month, fourth, eighth, and 11th graders will take state science exams.

The state has given the PSSAs since the 1990s, but the federal No Child Left Behind law of 2002 raised the stakes: Results determine whether a school is deemed passing or failing. Failure means intense oversight and sanctions that could include total staff replacement.

Critics say the law puts too much pressure on schools to drill students and teach only to the state tests. Supporters say it keeps standards high for all children.

In ways large and small, Pennsylvania students have been preparing for the exams for months.

At James Buchanan Elementary School in Levittown, an all-school pep rally last week revved up students for the test. And on the last school day before the exam, Welsh devoted classes to analyzing PSSA reading passages, reviewing math facts, and playing PSSA bingo.

"In math, these types of lines run side by side and never cross or intersect," Welsh teacher Denise McCaig prompted her fourth graders, who held markers poised above bingo sheets.

"Parallel lines!" Maurice shouted, waving his hand excitedly.

Welsh - a school of 620 kindergartners through eighth graders, about 90 percent of whom live in poverty - has passed state tests seven years running. To extend the streak, the staff began exam prep early, said Mike Reardon, the school's testing coordinator.

"We start preparing in September," he said, "but it becomes more intense as the year goes on."

There is teacher training, with videos of veteran teachers modeling effective PSSA prep methods for newer teachers. Struggling students are given extra support in small groups.

"And parents know what the test means," said Jeanette Fernandez, Welsh's principal. "We stress attendance, getting enough sleep . . . the night before the test," and a good breakfast.

Evy Clark, principal of Buchanan, a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in the Bristol Township School District, stood on the sideline as the school staged its massive PSSA pep rally. There were cheerleaders, an original PSSA song and dance, karate and gymnastics demonstrations, video testimonials, and younger students waving signs rooting for older ones.

Over the top? You bet. But Buchanan has never failed the state exam, and students know the pressure is on to keep standards up.

"Everyone's working so hard all year toward this goal of achieving proficiency," said Clark, using the state's term for hitting grade level. "Let's have some fun. Let's cheer each other on."

Keeping kids' attention focused on the test in a positive way is important, and the pep rally goes a long way, she said.

Other Buchanan PSSA strategies include extra reading and writing practice, a longer recess on test day, and permission for students to keep typically forbidden water bottles on their desks during the exam.

"We do a lot of positive reinforcement, telling them that they can do this, that they've got lots of strategies to solve problems," Clark said.

It's necessary, she said, because "for the most part, students are stressed out over the test. They take it seriously, and they know it's the same test everyone all over the state is taking."

At Samuel Fels High in Philadelphia, just juniors will take the exam. But PSSA-themed posters line the hallways, and everyone knows the test is looming.

Principal Greg Hailey uses incentives such as discounted prom tickets and Class of 2010 T-shirts to make sure students attend on test days.

"We do snacks for students throughout the day," he said. "We make sure they have water. We want them to be confident and comfortable."

At Welsh, fourth grader Shyann Martinez said she was ready to go. She flipped through a stack of well-worn photocopied test prep papers and nodded gravely.

"I feel a little bit nervous," Shyann said. "There could be something on the test that I need to work on. What if I do bad on the PSSA?"