NPSD to address school assessments in community forum

North Penn School District is holding a community forum on Monday, March 10, to address any questions parents or students may have about school assessments. With recent changes to state education standards, “we thought this was a good time to talk to our parents and community on this topic,” said Christine Liberaski, NPSD manager of school and community engagement. The forum will cover assessments for students at every grade level, she said, such as Keystone Exams, the PSSA and final exams.

Following a presentation by Superintendent Curt Dietrich, audience members will be invited to pose their questions to a panel of the district’s administrative team. The forum will also be aired online and on North Penn Television; those viewers will be able to send in their questions, Liberaski said.

Many parents have questions about Keystone Exams, Liberaski said, as they’re relatively new. The forum will explain which students are required to take Keystones, what will happen if they don’t do well and how their results will impact graduation. Although previous events for parents have been held to explain the Keystones, this will show parents more of the “big picture,” she said.

Keystones are for high school students, but the forum will also address PSSAs, which are now taken by students in grades 3-8, as well as the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), which are for students in grades K-6.

Although parents with children currently in the district will be most interested in the discussion, other parents are encouraged to attend, too. “You could have students that are coming into the district,” Liberaski said. “This might be really interesting for students, as well, the ones taking the exams. It’s all new for them.” The discussion will focus on NPSD assessments, though much of the information will also be relevant to other local school districts, she said.

The forum will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in the North Penn High School auditorium, 1340 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale.