Students, teachers and school districts are being put to the test in Pennsylvania and across the nation. Northampton Area School District is no exception.

The rigor of student testing is taking its toll not only in student stress but also in classroom teaching time, according to Lydia Hanner, NASD director of curriculum and instruction.

Tests and preparing for tests are taking up more of the school year.

Hanner presented a report on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSAs) and Pennsylvania Keystone Exams, which are replacing the PSSAs for 11th grade students in districts across the state.

"It's a big event. The kids really worked hard. And all of our staff worked hard to get the kids prepared," Hanner said at the NASD board meeting April 8. The meeting coincided with the first day of the PSSAs, which tests students in grades 3 through 8 in math, reading and science.

PSAA reading and math tests for grades 3-8 began April 15 and concluded April 19.

PSSA science tests for grades 4 and 8 began April 22 and conclude April 26.

The Keystones, as they are called, in Algebra I, biology and English Literature are given May 13-14 to students in grade 11.

"The Keystones are designed to make all our students college- and career-ready," said Hanner.

"We have to make adjustments – whether we like it or not with the Keystones," said Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik. "We'll do whatever we can to meet the students' needs."

"This is the biggest transition year," noted Hanner.

The members of the Class of 2017, who currently are eighth graders, are the first class that must pass the Keystones Common Core State Standards in order to graduate.

Hanner described the Common Core State Standards as "very, very rigorous."

Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) replaced grade 11 PSSA tests in mathematics, reading, writing, and science with Keystone Exams.

Student achievement in the Keystones will be measured to fulfill the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

PDE is also requiring students who've completed a course related to literature, biology or Algebra 1 take Keystones. Students in 10th grade will take the literature and biology Keystones.

Also, many 10th graders will take the Algebra 1 Keystones because they didn't previously take the test. Tenth graders who took the Algebra 1 Keystones have to take it again.

Middle school students will take Algebra 1 Keystones if they complete Algebra 1 courses.

Hanner explained that, in addition to taking PSSAs and Keystones, NASD students prepare for them in a number of ways, including what's known as "local assessments."

Teachers and administrators can determine how well a student is doing, or might do, on the tests.

These include tests such as Basic Early Literacy Skills in Kindergarten through third grade, 4Sight testing for grades 3-8 and Study Island for grades 9-11.

Progress Monitoring and Content Area Assessing for Grades K-12 are also ways for teachers to learn how well the students are learning.

Midterms and finals also provide data.

Hanner listed the time spent in the school term taking or preparing for tests as follows: elementary school, 38.5 days; middle school, 29 days; and high school, 33 days.

The school year is 180 days.

Kovalchik said that districts are being required to provide remediation for students who need to improve their Keystones scores. This may require hiring additional instructors.

Some NASD school board members expressed dismay at the emphasis on student test scores.

"We have lost the art of teaching," said school board Vice President Jane Erdo.

"It's not that teachers in my era weren't accountable. It's so sad," added school board member Judy Odenwelder.