What is the primary purpose of the Pennsylvania End-of-Course Knowledge (PECK) test?

The Pennsylvania End-of-Course Knowledge (PECK) test is designed primarily to assess student mastery of academic standards in specific subjects. This means that the test evaluates how well students have acquired the knowledge and skills outlined in the educational standards for their grade level and subject area. By focusing on mastery of the curriculum, the PECK test provides valuable data on student learning, helping educators understand areas where students excel and where they may need additional support or resources.

This focus on academic standards allows for a clearer picture of educational outcomes and informs curriculum development and instruction practices. In contrast, assessments of extracurricular activities do not relate directly to academic achievement; evaluating teacher effectiveness, while important, is not the primary aim of this specific test; and ranking schools based on performance, while a possible use of collected data, is not the test's fundamental purpose.