Can a student be excused from the PSSA?

There are several reasons why a student could be excused from the PSSA. If the parent reads the test and wants the child to be excluded from it based on religious beliefs, a letter can be written to the Superintendent of the school making the request known. “Parents do not have to defend their religion nor do they have to state specific parts of the test that are religiously disagreeable to them. A statement expressing a religious conflict is all that is necessary for exemption. Schools must provide an alternative educational setting for these students while testing is in progress.” Any exclusion based on parental consent will negatively impact the schools progress AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) numbers. (Bureau of Assessment and Accountability Booklet 2007 pg 8)

Students who have extended absence for the testing window of the PSSA or have had a recent medical emergency can be excluded. Students who are uncooperative and refuse to participate in the test are excluded. Students who have no IEP and are placed in a court or agency appointed school or in an alternative education setting do not have to participate. Students who are first year English Language Learners do not have to participate in the reading sections of the test, but must participate in the Mathematics section of the tests. Students who will be participating in the Pennsylvania Alternative System of Assessment (PASA) are excluded from the PSSA. (Bureau of Assessment and Accountability Booklet)