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Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content

The Assessment Anchors are one of the many tools the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has developed to better align curriculum, instruction and assessment practices throughout the state. PDE first released the Assessment Anchors for Mathematics and Reading in 2004. The Assessment Anchors, like the Standards, are dynamic documents and will be adjusted periodically.

Mathematics

2013
- Grade 3 Mathematics Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 4 Mathematics Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 5 Mathematics Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 6 Mathematics Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 7 Mathematics Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 8 Mathematics Assessment Anchors (PDF)
Prior Years
- Mathematics Introduction (PDF)
- Grades 3 and 4 Math Assessment Anchor Glossary (PDF)
- Grades 5 and 6 Math Assessment Anchor Glossary (PDF)
- Grades 7 and 8 Math Assessment Anchor Glossary (PDF)
- Grade 3 Math Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 4 Math Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 5 Math Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 6 Math Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 7 Math Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 8 Math Assessment Anchors (PDF)

Reading/English Language Arts

2013
Prior Years
- Reading Introduction (PDF)
- Reading Assessment Anchor Glossary (PDF)
- Grade 3 Reading Assessment Anchors (PDF)
- Grade 4 Reading Assessment Anchors (PDF)

Grade 5 Reading Assessment Anchors (PDF)
Grade 6 Reading Assessment Anchors (PDF)

Grade 7 Reading Assessment Anchors (PDF)
Grade 8 Reading Assessment Anchors (PDF)

Science

Science Introduction (PDF)
Science Assessment Glossary (PDF)
Grade 4 Science Assessment Anchors (PDF)
Grade 8 Science Assessment Anchors (PDF)

Assessment Anchors Toolkit

Adopt-an-Anchor is one of many tools that the Department of Education has developed to help schools and districts better understand the Assessment System and how it links to quality teaching and learning. Adopt-an-Anchor is designed specifically to support teachers and leaders in schools and districts in making solid decisions about using the Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors to drive high-quality, aligned instruction across the curriculum.

Adopt-An-Anchor Booklet (PDF)
Adopt-An-Anchor PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)

Mathematics Anchor Cards

2007 Grade 3 Math Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 4 Math Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 5 Math Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 6 Math Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 7 Math Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 8 Math Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)

Reading Anchor Cards

2007 Grade 3 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 4 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 5 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 6 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 7 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 8 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
Back of Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)

Context Counts Reading Anchor Cards

2007 Grade 3 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 4 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 5 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 6 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 7 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
2007 Grade 8 Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)
Back of Reading Assessment Anchor Cards (PDF)

Context Counts

Context Counts! - Background and Strategies for Improving Student Achievement (PDF)