Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS)
PVAAS is one of the tools in the cadre of tools provided each fall to local education agencies (LEAs)/districts and schools from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
LEAs/districts, schools, and teachers are using PVAAS (growth and projection data), in conjunction with achievement data, to make sure students are on a path to proficiency and beyond. Utilizing all the data available (growth and achievement), educators are able to make data-informed instructional decisions to ensure the academic growth and achievement of all students.
Find key information to understand and communicate about PVAAS.
What Should You Know about PVAAS? (PDF)
What specific types of PVAAS reporting are available to districts, schools, and teachers?
PVAAS provides two types of information,
value-added (or growth) data on groups of students, and
student-level projection data.
The value-added (or growth) information analyzes available data from previous years (looking back) to help districts, schools, and teachers evaluate how much groups of students have gained academically in a school year by answering questions such as: Is our instructional program working for all students? At all grades? In all subjects? PVAAS value-added (or growth) reporting is available in the grades and subjects/courses assessed in Pennsylvania's statewide assessment system. This includes reporting for math and ELA (grades 4-8), science (grades 4 and 8), and Keystone content areas (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology).
The student-level projection information uses the data already analyzed to help schools project (look forward) to the future by answering questions such as: What is the likelihood of a student being proficient on a future state assessment? Projection data can be used for intervention planning, enrichment planning, course selection and planning, college and career planning, and resource allocation. PVAAS projection reporting is available for PSSA Math, PSSA ELA, PSSA Science, Keystone Algebra I, Keystone Literature, Keystone Biology, Advanced Placement (for AP subject areas with the largest statewide enrollment), PSAT, SAT, and ACT.
How can you access PVAAS data?
Districts and schools can access data via the
PVAAS website using a unique login and password. The public can access PVAAS through the same site via the "Public Access" button.
Users may access demo accounts from the perspective of a district administrator, school administrator or teacher. Please contact the PVAAS Statewide Team for demo account credentials via email:
pdepvaas@iu13.org
Support and Assistance
The PVAAS Statewide Team for PDE provides statewide professional learning, resource development and technical assistance for the statewide implementation of the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS) in response to the needs of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
For answers to questions regarding statewide support or professional learning, please contact the PVAAS Statewide Team via phone: 717-606-1911 or email:
pdepvaas@iu13.org.
For additional support, training, and/or follow-up services, contact your local Intermediate Unit.
PVAAS Points of Contact