Joint Letter – Biden, Casey, Toomey – Student Assessments

January 19, 2021

Currently, Pennsylvania’s system of standardized assessment of students (the PSSAs and Keystone Exams) are still slated to be administered this spring. While this may seem unreasonable and unachievable in light of what our students, teachers and principals have been faced with during the 2020-2021 school year, it is an obligation states have under the Every Student Succeeds Act, that can only be waived by the US Department of Education. The Pennsylvania Principals Association, along with other education organizations in our state, have written the attached letter to the incoming Biden Administration and our State Senators. As you will notice, the letter provides a solid rationale for the Federal government to waive these assessments this year. The Legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania Principals Association is unanimous in its support of this letter and in demanding that the waivers be enacted immediately.

Click here for the letter.