State Education Department Reviews reports from School Districts Flagged for PSSA Results

State education officials are reviewing reports from the nearly three dozen school districts and chartered schools flagged in a review of 2009 standardized test scores.  All but one of the schools has responded with a review of areas flagged in their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) results. State Education Department spokesman Tim Eller says that school was given an extension.

Eller could not discuss what was specifically in the reports, because the department’s investigation is not complete.  He did say that the reports will be used in conjunction with the department reviewing the data in detail, going over it with a fine toothed comb.  He says the department will decide if the investigation is closed or if further investigation is warranted.

The department is also awaiting the results of forensic reviews of the 2010 and 2011 PSSA results. Eller says while the 2009 report does stand on its own, the other reports will provide a trend analysis.

Eller says the 2009 report is not an indication cheating occurred; it just raised areas that needed review.   He says they’re also looking at whether there needs to be any change in the way the results are analyzed due to shifting school populations.