Student Assessment: PSSA & Keystone Information
Welcome to our district's assessment page — your hub for important information about statewide assessments, including the PSSAs and Keystones.
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What You'll Find Here
Assessment Calendar
Access the statewide assessment calendar for MASD.
PDE Resources
Item samplers, test designs, blueprints, and scoring guidelines.
Parent Letters & Policies
Recent parent FAQs, electronic device policy, and more from PDE.

Have questions about local or statewide assessments? Contact your child's school for more information.
Resources for Students & Families
Understanding Statewide Assessments
PDE provides publicly accessible resources including testing administration information, assessment anchors, eligible content, and cut scores. Explore the links below or reach out to your School or District Assessment Coordinator.
Elementary & Middle School
PSSA Resources
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment covers ELA, Mathematics, and Science for elementary and middle school students.
1
Mathematics (Grades 3–8)
Test design, calculator policy, item samplers, scoring guidelines, formula sheets.
2
English/Language Arts (Grades 3–8)
Test design, item samplers, Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA) scoring guidelines.
3
Science (Grades 5 & 8)
Test design, item samplers, and scoring guidelines.
High School
Keystone Exam Resources
Keystone Exams assess proficiency in Literature, Algebra, and Biology at the high school level.
Item Samplers
Practice with sample test questions and answers.
Scoring Guidelines
Understand how exams are evaluated and scored.
General Assessment Information from PDE
Parent Letters & FAQs
Review the following important documents provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
PSSA Parent Letter
Spring 2025 — FAQs for families.
Keystone Parent Letter
Winter & Spring 2024–2025 — FAQs for families.
Policies & Procedures
Electronic Devices Policy
Spring 2025 guidelines for PSSAs & Keystones.
Calculator Policy
PDE's official Pennsylvania Calculator Policy.
Code of Conduct
PDE's Code of Conduct for Test Takers.
Additional Documents
Opt-Out & Additional Information
Opt-Out Procedures
PSSA and Keystone Exams Opt-Out Procedures (Updated March 2025).
Confidentiality Agreement
PDE Required Confidentiality Agreement for opt-out families.
PASA Threshold
Information on exceeding the 1% PASA threshold.
Important Reminders

All parents/guardians of eligible test-takers receive a physical copy of both the Parent Letter and the Electronic Device information for the PSSAs and/or Keystone exams.
Following these steps ensures students and families are fully prepared for statewide assessments.
Get in Touch
Questions? We're Here to Help
For any questions about local or statewide assessments, please contact your child's school directly. Your School Assessment Coordinator and District Assessment Coordinator are ready to assist.
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