Parents with children in fourth through ninth grades will soon be receiving a letter from the Bethlehem Area School District about the statewide low PSSA scores.

Jack Silva, assistant superintendent for education and chief academic officer, told the school board the letter was ordered by the state secretary of education. Schools across the state saw declines in students’ PSSA scores given last year. The math scores for eighth-grade students statewide dropped 43.7 percent. The only assessment area with a gain was in the English language arts (formerly called reading) among fifth graders. That was an increase of 1.4 percent.

“The 2015 PSSA’s were so much different (like comparing apples to oranges) and so much more difficult,” Silva said.

The test was changed to be in line with the federal Common Core standards. Silva explained that the state program is called PA Core, but the two have similar standards.

Why the change?

According to Common Core’s website, “We need college- and career-ready standards, because even in high-performing states, students are graduating and passing all the required tests but still need remediation in their postsecondary work.”

The website explains that the tests require students to truly understand critical ideas, not just be able to guess well. For instance, the video explaining the new tests uses an elementary math question to illustrate the difference. In the old test, a question about fractions would ask: “Which number names the point on the number line?” The new test says, “Drag each fraction to the correct location on the number line.” The student has to use critical thinking in order to get the correct answer on the newer test.

“Standards from top-performing countries played a significant role in the development of the math and English language arts/literacy standards,” states the website. The idea is to make American students more competitive with students in other countries.

The BASD letter destined for the parents asks them to explain to their children that “the transition to the new, more rigorous standards will take time … results are meant to establish a baseline.” The letter encourages parents and children to understand that the test scores will improve as the students “become more familiar with the new standards.”

BASD school board member Eugene McKeon asked Silva which he thinks is the better indicator of success in post-secondary education, the college boards or the state testing.

“They’re both supposed to show a student’s college readiness,” Silva said. But he said he thinks the college boards are the better indicator.

Silva said in the letter to parents, “Please know that the BASD views PSSA scores as a small, frequently overrated, measure of a student’s true ability. The BASD has expressed serious concern over the heightened emphasis upon state testing as well as the validity of the PSSA itself to the Pa. Department of Education and Pa. State Legislature.”