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The Methacton School District will be administering the 2026 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) to all students in Grades 3 through 8 this spring. New this year, the state of Pennsylvania has moved all assessments online. Students will need to bring their fully charged, district-issued Chromebook and charger to school each day of testing. The testing schedule is outlined below.
PSSA Testing Schedule
| PSSA Administration | Grades Tested | Testing Dates |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | Grades 3 through 8 | April 21, 22, 23 |
| Mathematics | Grades 3 through 8 | April 28 and 29 |
| Science | Grades 5 and 8 | April 30 and May 1 |
The PSSA is the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) annual standards-based test used to measure a student's attainment of the Pennsylvania Core and Academic Standards. The assessment is designed to assist Pennsylvania school districts in determining the quality of their educational programs. It takes a collaborative effort of school personnel, parents and guardians, and most importantly, our students, to achieve success. The results of these assessments do not impact your student’s grades or placement. They do assist the district in determining needs related to programs, supports and resources. Additionally, they reflect for the public the work we do here in our Methacton schools.
Parents can assist our efforts and reaffirm the importance of the assessment at home by ensuring their child gets plenty of rest prior to each testing session, is provided a healthy breakfast every morning, and arrives to school on time. Please avoid the scheduling of doctor’s appointments and vacations during this time frame; students are required by the PDE to make-up any missed portion of the test within a specific window of time.
Chapter 4 of Title 22 of the Pa. Code (22 Pa. Code 4.4) provides for the rights of any parent/guardian to excuse their child from the state assessment if they find the assessment to be in conflict with their religious beliefs. If a parent pursues a religious exemption from the PSSA or Keystone Exams, they are to contact their school principal at least 1 week prior to the start of testing to follow the appropriate procedures, which include:
- Communication via email to the building principal of the request for religious exemption.
- The building principal will respond to your request, and ask for you to preview the materials in person.
- Letter to the Superintendent of Schools indicating the opt-out for religious reasons.
View the PDE Information for Parents or Guardians - Frequently Asked Questions and information concerning electronic devices as they pertain to PSSA testing.
Thank you for your support throughout the PSSA testing sessions. If you have additional questions, please contact your child’s school principal.