Welcome to the PSSA Parent Workshop!

1. Welcome to the PSSA Parent Workshop! How did my child do on the PSSA test? What is my child’s performance in reading and math? How can I help my child grow?

2. PSSA Parent Workshop • Your presenters tonight are: • Linda Feldstein, School Counselor – Pine Forge Elementary School • Marilee Cassidy, BASD School Counseling Coordinator

3. We promised to answer 3 questions tonight… How did my child do on the PSSA test? We’ll take an in-depth look at the PSSA Report you received from your child’s school. What is my child’s performance in reading and math? We’ll look at the Performance Level descriptors, as well as the required skills for each area. How can I help my child grow? You’ll participate in an on-line planning activity designed to address the particular areas where your child might need to strengthen skills.

4. First, how did my child do on the test? • Green means: “GO”… your child is doing a great job! • Green means: Your child scored either at the Proficient or the Advanced level. • Green means: Your child’s performance indicates either satisfactory or superior academic achievement.

5. If your child scored in the yellow area… • Yellow means: “CAUTION”… your child may need a closer look at these skill areas! • Yellow means: Your child scored at the Basic level. • Yellow means: Your child’s performance indicates marginal academic performance that is approaching, but not yet reaching satisfactory achievement.

6. If your child scored in the red area… • Red means: “STOP” …your child needs additional instructional opportunities in this area! • Red means: Your child scored at the Below Basic level. • Red means: Your child’s performance indicates little understanding of skills in this area and minimal display of academic achievement.

7. What is my child’s performance in reading and math? This page contains information about your child’s actual score. There is also a score range provided for the performance area your child scored within. This allows you to determine how close or far the score falls from other performance levels. For instance, the score range for proficient might be 1336 – 1428. A score of 1382 falls right near the middle, but a score of 1341 means your child may be at risk of dropping into the Basic Level if they are not working to maintain and strengthen those skills.

8. What is my child’s performance in reading and math? • You’ll also find a breakdown of how your child performed on the PA Academic Standards for reading, math or writing. • The reporting categories are listed on the left. • Next to that, there is a score breakdown, including the total points possible and the points earned by your child. • This gives you to further information about specific areas your student might need to strengthen! • Let’s do a little exploring:http://www.growparents.com/paelementary/reading/featuredstandardsgroup1/grade1/

9. What is my child’s performance in reading and math? To learn more about the Performance Level descriptors and what they mean, we’ll go to www.PAGrow.com

10. How can I help my child grow? • Your PSSA report, the Performance Levels and the PA Academic Standards are just the beginning. • Let’s look at some resources… • Type www.pagrow.com into your computer’s browser window.

11. Thank you for coming tonight! And, thank you for becoming an active partner in your child’s education! Marilee and Linda