FAQs About the PSSA in Cyber School

Every year, all school districts and charter schools in the commonwealth are required to offer standards-based assessments, including the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). By having your child take the PSSA, schools like PA Cyber measure how well students are doing in core academic subjects, ensure the school is accountable for the education it offers, and comply with state and federal laws. PSSA results allow your school’s level of rigor to be compared against other schools of its kind.

Your child’s participation is extremely important. PA Cyber families are strongly encouraged to speak to their Academic Advisor about days, times, and locations for your child’s assessment(s).

Read on for a list of frequently asked questions that families have about the PSSA.

Do PA Cyber students take the PSSA?

Yes! As a public online school, PA Cyber is required to offer these tests to its students statewide. It is mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Which students take the PSSA?

With the exception of a few students who meet specific criteria for participation in an alternate assessment, students at all Pennsylvania public schools are included in the PSSA as follows: English Language Arts (ELA) & Mathematics—Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and Science—Grades 5 and 8.

Parents may ask school staff for more information about the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA).

When will students take the assessment?

District and charter schools hold PSSAs in the spring.

How long does each test take to complete?

The assessments take the following estimated amount of time:

• ELA: 3 to 4 hours
• Math: 2 to 3 hours
• Science: 1 to 2 hours

Where will PA Cyber students take the assessment?

The school holds more than 30 testing locations statewide.

My child attends school online. Can they take the PSSA online, too?

While students can’t take the PSSA from home, they can complete it online at school-designated locations.

What are the benefits of taking the PSSA?

Students can practice their test-taking skills, which will help them with future standardized exams (including the SAT and ACT), professional certification tests, or skill proficiency tests for job interviews. The results help teachers identify areas where students need extra support and create lessons tailored to individual needs. The results also provide parents and guardians with valuable information about their child’s academic progress.

How can my child prepare for the PSSA?

• Practice tests are available online. To find sample questions, visit the PSSA webpage; scroll down to Resource Materials; select Mathematics, ELA, or Science; and choose a scoring sampler from past assessments for your child’s grade level.
• Get plenty of rest the night before the test.
• On the day of the test, eat a well-balanced meal before arriving at the test location.

What should my child bring to the PSSA?

• Students may bring a calculator (for grades 4-8 only), a book to read if they finish a test section early, a sweater or sweatshirt, and a healthy snack.
• Students may not bring a cell phone, smartwatch, tablet, or other electronic device into the testing room. Calculators, including scientific calculators, are permitted. View the PDE electronic device letter for details.

What if my child has medical needs at testing locations?

Your school nurse will create a plan for your child. Health needs may include allergies, diabetes, seizure disorders, or asthma.

PA Cyber parents are asked to complete the Medical Needs at Testing form.

How can my child work through test anxiety?

Remember that PSSA scores only reflect how well your child did that day—not how they are as a student overall. If they didn’t do as well as they would have liked, they can see it as an opportunity to improve.

The Child Mind Institute recommends creating a study schedule and taking practice tests. Knowing what the tests will look like ahead of time can help ease anxiety. Another helpful strategy is not spending too much time on any one question. This means marking questions you don’t know the answer to and returning to them later if you have time.

My child missed the test. Can they make it up?

Families are encouraged to avoid absences during their school’s PSSA testing window by scheduling appointments around testing dates, if possible. Schools offer make-up tests for students who miss their PSSA exam(s).

PA Cyber families are encouraged to contact their Site Manager if they need to request a make-up test.

More FAQ information is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education webpage: Information for Parents or Guardians on PSSA.