PENNSYLVANIA Study: State basic skills tests are reliable

One official said the study's results were 'very positive.'
HARRISBURG (AP) -- A study of Pennsylvania's basic pupil skills tests commissioned by the state Board of Education has concluded that the tests can reliably and consistently measure whether pupils meet the state's math and reading standards.
But the state's largest teacher's union, one of the strongest critics of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, said the study doesn't answer the critical question of whether the tests can truly measure the performance of teachers and schools.
The test, which became mandatory in 1995, has become an important element of Pennsylvania's compliance with federal No Child Left Behind education mandates, which require all pupils to be at least proficient in math and reading by 2014.
Released early
The study was released to The Associated Press on Thursday, a day before it was to be presented at a special meeting of the state board. Although it raises some concerns, such as a need for more difficult multiple-choice questions, none are serious enough to cast doubt on the validity of the PSSA, said Jim Buckheit, the board's executive director.
"Overall, the findings are very positive," Buckheit said. "Generally, the test appropriately measures the academic standards evenly across, from one year to the next."
The board hired Human Resources Research Organization, of Alexandria, Va., in September to conduct the $166,000 study as part of the board's review of state academic standards, which outline what pupils are expected to know at certain grade levels. The organization has conducted similar testing reviews in other states, including California, Florida and Kentucky.
The board contributed $25,000 toward the cost of the study, while grants from three charitable foundations paid for the balance. The study consists of three technical reports that examined test results over the last three to four years.
Among other things, it found that pupils' PSSA scores strongly matched their performance on other commonly used standardized tests, such as the Terra Nova, the California Achievement Tests and the SAT.
Reinforced method
The study also reinforced the board's method for setting the PSSA scoring system for math and reading. The system sorts pupils into one of four categories: below-basic, basic, proficient and advanced.
Carolyn Dumaresq, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state union representing 100,000 teachers, said that while the study addresses some of the union's concerns, it did not explore whether the test is an appropriate gauge of how well schools are complying with the federal government's expectations under the No Child Left Behind Act.