1. National Conference on Student Assessment Developing and Implementing High Quality Assessments June 23, 2015 www.education.pa.gov >

2. > National Conference on Student Assessment Pennsylvania is going it alone  Not implementing PARCC or Smarter Balanced  Keystone Exams  End-of-course high school exams  Algebra I, Literature, Biology  PSSA  Grades 3 – 8 English Language Arts and Math  Grades 4 and 8 Science 2

3. www.education.pa.gov > National Conference on Student Assessment Pennsylvania Core Standards  The Pennsylvania State Board of Education adopted new ELA and math standards in 2013 – the Pennsylvania Core Standards  Hybrid  PA Academic Content Standards  Common Core Standards  Chose the more rigorous 3

4. www.education.pa.gov > National Conference on Student Assessment New Assessments Aligned to the Pennsylvania Core Standards  It would be impossible to assess every single standard on the statewide assessment. Rather than have teachers “guess” which standards are most critical, PA developed Assessment Anchors to identify a core set of standards that could reasonably be assessed on a large scale assessment. 4

5. www.education.pa.gov > National Conference on Student Assessment Assessment Anchors  Assessment Anchors clarify the standards assessed on the PSSA.  Assessment Anchors are designed to hold together or “anchor” both the state assessment system and the curriculum/instructional practices in schools. 5

6. www.education.pa.gov > National Conference on Student Assessment Item Development Vendor writes item aligned to new Standards/Assessment Anchors Department of Education Assessment Specialist reviews the item Item Review Committee (PA educators) reviews the item Bias, Fairness, and Sensitivity Committee reviews the item Item is field tested Item-with-Data Review Committee (PA educators) reviews the item 6

7. www.education.pa.gov > National Conference on Student Assessment Standard Setting New Performance Level Descriptors developed PA educators Bookmark method PA educators Validate during the Standard Setting Validate after the Standard Setting 7

8. www.education.pa.gov > 8 For more information on the development and implementation of high quality assessments, please visit PDE’s website at www.education.pa.gov The mission of the department is to academically prepare children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. The department seeks to ensure that the technical support, resources and opportunities are in place for all students, whether children or adults, to receive a high quality education.