It is of the utmost importance that your child make every attempt to be present in school during this time. Make-up tests will be given to students who are absent during this window.
The PSSA English Language Arts test will be administered to grades 3 - 6 beginning April 21 - 25, 2025
The PSSA Math test will be administered to grades 3 - 6 beginning April 28 - May 2, 2025
The PSSA Science test will be administered to grade 4 beginning April 28 - May 2, 2025
Here are some things you can do to help your child be successful:
OPTIMIZE BRAIN POWER - Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and eats a healthy breakfast. Yogurt, cereal, and eggs are great, but dinner for breakfast can also be great. Pizza, spaghetti, and even potatoes will give the brain an extra boost!
CHALLENGE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS - Continue to encourage your child to complete their homework every night. Children should also be reading outside of school. Research shows that children who read for 60 minutes outside of school will score remarkably higher on standardized tests.
PROVIDE PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES - While most classrooms are already covering the sample test items in class, you can also familiarize yourself with the type of information your child will see on the PSSA. Visit the PDE website. Here, you will find sample test items for each grade level.
RELAX & REMAIN POSITIVE - Please understand that it is exhausting for our young students during this testing time. They will exert a tremendous amount of brain power and self control. Help them stay confident and committed by encouraging them to do their best. If you are nervous about their performance, be wary of transferring that concern to your child. Believe it or not, some children actually enjoy these tests! If your child does get nervous before taking tests, have them practice relaxation techniques such as, taking deep breaths, counting from 1 to 10, or closing their eyes and visualizing a happy memory.
Together, we can help our children be at ease and find success during the testing time.
Additional Resources:
Partnership for Assessment - includes sample test items
The Common Core - includes information and resources for teachers, parents and students
Future Testing Dates:
PSSA Testing dates for the 2025-2026 School Year:
- ELA - April 20 - 24, 2026
- Math & Science - April 27 - May 1, 2026