Several years ago the Department of Education implemented a statewide testing program for all public school districts as part of the Chapter 5 curriculum regulations. The purpose of the program is to provide districts with results that can assist the school district with curriculum and instruction improvement. Individual student scores were mailed home in the fall of 1999 which represented the previous school year, '98-'99. In October, Wilson received a summary report which included district average scores along with the state average scores.
Many factors impact upon schools' scores.
Therefore, comparative judgments about the performance of different schools should not be based solely on one set of results from one test. Since this was our sixth year of participation in the Pennsylvania Assessment, these District scores will begin to provide Wilson with data to look at long range changes and improvements. Wilson students' scores, in general, were above the State average. Beginning with the 1998 administration of the PSSA, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has provided funding for school performance initiatives. The bases for these awards are achievement and effort, with the rewards based upon school improvement in either or both these measures.