HARRISBURG – The Department of Education has announced that the Web site for the public to provide feedback on the Pennsylvania Standards is fully populated with the eligible content in English language arts and mathematics for grades three to eight and Algebra I and Literature at the secondary level.
The Web site can be accessed by visiting here.
Launched in October, the Web site includes interactive features that allow visitors to provide feedback and suggestions, as well as view sample questions on the state tests to see what is being presented to and asked of students. Since going live last month, the Web site has registered more than 7,000 sessions.
In September, Gov. Tom Corbett called on the department and the State Board of Education to complete the final phase of a three-year effort to permanently rollback the national Common Core State Standards adopted during the Rendell administration in 2010.
In 1999, Pennsylvania initially adopted academic standards, which have been periodically reviewed and updated by the State Board of Education. Standards do not mandate curriculum, teaching methods and instructional strategies, or materials to be used in the classroom, nor does the Department of Education and the State Board of Education require schools to use specific textbooks, reading books or other related materials. These decisions are made at the local level by school officials in each of the 500 school districts across the commonwealth.
The academic review Web site will remain available for public review and comment until mid-January 2015.
The Web site can also be accessed by visiting here and clicking on the “Pennsylvania Standards: Eligible Content Review” graphic.
