Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS)

The Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS) measures how much students' learning has improved over time, based on standardized test scores. It evaluates the effectiveness of teachers and schools by comparing students' progress against expected growth given their starting points. This system helps educators understand which teaching strategies are working and where additional support may be needed. Importantly, PVAAS focuses on student growth rather than just test scores, emphasizing ongoing progress and providing a fairer assessment of instructional impact across diverse student populations.