* Assess student learning: To see if students are meeting the state's academic standards in key subjects.
* Identify areas needing improvement: To pinpoint areas where students and schools are struggling and to inform instructional improvements.
* Accountability: To hold schools and districts accountable for student achievement and progress. The results are used in school performance reports and can influence funding decisions.
* Inform instruction: Teachers use the results to tailor their teaching to better meet the needs of their students.
* Monitor progress over time: To track student performance across grade levels and over time to see if improvements are being made.
Essentially, the PSSAs aim to provide a snapshot of student learning in Pennsylvania, allowing for adjustments to improve the quality of education.