This study analyzed the differences between teachers' perceptions of the influence of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test on student achievement, instructional practices and school climate. Eight fifth-grade teachers from two elementary schools in southeasterns Pennsylvania participated in the study. Supported by PSSA overall and performance level results, one elementary school was considering to be a high performing school and one a low performing school. The researcher administered a nationally recognized teacher survey accompanied by teacher interviews. PSSA test results in mathematics and reading from the years 2000-2004 were also analyzed. These findings may guide future research as administrators and teachers decide how to best implement and utilize PSSA test results to design constructive practices, improve student achievement, and provide a safe and nurturing environment for all students.

Value-added assessment (VAA) systems use statistical techniques to analyze test-score data; VAA data is intended to help educators make more informed decisions about curriculum and instruction. The authors examined the rollout of Pennsylvania's VAA program, and found that, in its pilot phase, the program had little effect on student achievement and received limited use by most principals and teachers at schools participating in the program.

This qualitative research study investigated the perceptions of elementary and middle school teachers concerning self-reflection, self-efficacy, and instructional delivery with regards to the impact of the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System's (PVAAS) rating on teachers' professional growth. The participants were 28 elementary and middle school teachers in grades 4-8 who had taught in 1 of the 13 selected schools and had taught at least one reporting testing course required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This research was based on their participation in an online survey that included Likert scale responses and open-ended questions. The researcher also interviewed 4 teachers to further investigate their beliefs regarding the impact of their PVAAS rating. Results from the study indicate the majority of teachers believed that their PVAAS rating did not have a positive impact on their professional growth in self-reflection. An analysis also revealed that the majority of teachers did not find that their PVAAS rating helped them reflect on their content or instruction, nor identify underlying factors of student learning. Teachers perceived that their PVAAS rating did not have a positive impact on their professional growth in self-efficacy. In addition, teachers' beliefs about how much influence they have over their lowest and highest achieving students did not change as a result of receiving their PVAAS rating. This study revealed that the majority of teachers believed that their PVAAS rating did not impact their instruction.

This qualitative research study was designed to examine teachers' perceptions of Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS) projection data and its impact on instructional practices. Specifically, the study focused on the use of projection data and its impact on teachers' instructional practices for students who are identified as underperforming and higher performing. There were seventeen participants from two school districts in southeastern Pennsylvania. Participants completed an online survey comprised of 5-point Likert scale questions, short answer questions, and interview questions. The data was analyzed and revealed that in general, teachers did not find PVAAS projection summary data valuable and did not consider the data when planning lessons. The results also revealed that teachers spent more time planning and differentiating for underperforming students than higher performing students.

The purpose of this research was to determine if the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System Average Growth Index (PVAAS AGI) scores, derived from standardized tests and calculated for Pennsylvania schools, provide a valid and reliable assessment of teacher effectiveness, as these scores are currently used to derive 15% of the annual effectiveness rating assigned to PVAAS eligible mathematics and English language arts teachers. The research also sought to determine if teacher perceptions indicate that the validity and reliability of the PVAAS AGI score included in the Classroom Rating Tool is important. The PVAAS AGI scores, average Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) scores, and demographic data from 260 Pennsylvania middle schools serving grades six through eight were utilized to determine the extent to which PVAAS AGI scores assigned to a school change statistically over time and if there is a relationship between the PVAAS AGI in mathematics or English language arts for each school and the percentage of economically disadvantaged, learning disabled, English language learners, and minorities attending the school. A Likert scale survey of twenty PVAAS eligible teachers of mathematics and English language arts employed in two middle schools serving grades six through eight in the same district yielded information regarding teacher perceptions. Results of this study indicated that the mean gains for PVAAS AGI scores significantly decreased from 2013 to 2016 for all schools, regardless of achievement level, in both mathematics and English language arts. The demographic variables analyzed did not impact PVAAS AGI scores for schools. Teacher morale was significantly negatively impacted by the inclusion of PVAAS AGI scores in the Classroom Rating Tool, the Pennsylvania mandated rubric utilized to measure teacher effectiveness. Additionally, teachers indicated that they believe important decisions such as changes to instructional practices and scheduling are made based on PVAAS AGI, even though teachers do not understand how it is calculated or trust the validity of PVAAS AGI scores. The literature review surfaced concerns regarding how the average NCE scores are treated in the PVAAS statistical model, as certain treatment of these scores could potentially force invalid results. The literature review also revealed that the Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), the company that designs the standardized tests from which the data utilized in the PVAAS statistical model is derived, has warned that scores at the maximum and the minimum end of the scale may not be accurate due to the design of their test. This is a matter of interest due to the fact that the SAS Institute claims that the tests utilized by their model must be able to measure the performance of students at the lowest and highest ends of the achievement spectrum, begging the question of whether it is even possible for the PVAAS model to accurately determine student growth. Finally, discrepancies in the reported grade levels for schools were found on the state data reporting site.