State and AP Testing

The PSSA is the annual standards-based assessment used to measure a student’s
attainment of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards in English-Language Arts (ELA),
Mathematics, and Science. Students in grades 3-8 for the 2024-2025 school year will
automatically take designated PSSAs.

Assessment scores represent a snapshot of student performance and should not be
considered the sole indicator of student achievement. Data obtained from each assessment serves as only one tool for planning school programs, designing curriculum and instruction, and providing information to the public. Assessments are some of the tools that help us evaluate academic growth and measure performance against state and national standards.

The state testing window is April 23 - May 9.  The KCSD testing window is from April 28 - May 6.

• April 28-30: ELA PSSA Window
• May 1-2: Math PSSA Window
• May 5-6: Science PSSA Window (only grades 5 and 8)

Parents may help their children prepare for the assessments by encouraging them to get plenty of rest the night before testing and have a good breakfast on the mornings of the test.

Chapter 4 of Title 22 of PA. Code (22 PA. Code 4.4) provides for the right of any parent/guardian to excuse their child from the state assessment if, upon inspection of the testing materials, they find the assessment to conflict with religious beliefs. This is the only reason the state allows students to opt out of an assessment.

Parents and guardians may review the PSSA materials by making arrangements with the school principal after the exams arrive on April 7, 2025. Parents/guardians must sign the Parent Confidentiality Agreement before examining test materials. A record of the agreement will be kept at the school. 

If you opt your child out of taking one or more PSSAs, parents/guardians must review the test materials in person and provide a written request addressed to the superintendent and delivered to the principal. Please note you must submit a separate request for each child you request to be excluded. More information from your principal will be provided in the near future.