Importatant dates for the 2008 PSSA test!

March is soon upon us, and so too, is the PSSA test. This year the window in which the Reading and Mathematics test must be given is from March 31, 2008 to April 11, 2008. The Reading and Mathematics PSSA test will be shipped from Data Recognition Corp. (DRC) to the schools by March 3, 2008. If you are a parent and would like to review your child's PSSA test prior to the test date, then you can make your request know to the school any time after March 3, 2008. By March 17, 2008, the school will be sending a flyer to all parents which answers some basic questions about the PSSA test with the last question talking about the parent's right to review the test. If you are reviewing the test, make certain that you request the specific test that your child will be taking. (In case you missed the earlier information, there are many different tests per grade level.) You may meet with a little reluctance or hesitation due to the fact that the District Test Coordinator or the principal may not know how to handle such a request. In my case, I have already spoken with the District Test Coordinator. She was unsure what to do when I asked to review the specific test that my son would be taking, However, she was able to call the appropriate person at the PA Department of Education who said it would be allowable to open a pack of tests and whatever test was given to me for review from that pack would then be labeled as my son's test. The Coordinator said she would pass this information on to the principal of the school that my son attends. Remember, if you are working, you do not have to take time off work review this test. The school must schedule a time for you to review the test that is at your convenience. Be warned that there are stipulations to reviewing the test. Among other things, a confidentiality agreement must be signed and a district representative must be present while you are reviewing the test. Despite this, I would love to see every parent reviewing this test! Let us show the lawmakers, the school personnel, and our children that we want information about this test and more importantly, we want a say in how it is used to judge our students.