Keystone & PSSA Testing Information
PA Department of Education Letter to Parents
Frequently Asked Questions by Parents/Guardians
Code of Conduct for Test Takers
PA Calculator Policy
2017 PA Keystone Letter to Parents
PSSA & Keystone Information
7th and 8th grade students are required to participate in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and specifically required to take assessments in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science.
PSSA Testing Schedule
The Spring PSSA assessments will take place first thing on the following dates:
- PSSA ELA: April 4-7, in grades 7 and 8
- PSSA Mathematics: April 25-27, in grades 7 and 8
- PSSA Science: May 2-3, in grades 8
- PSSA Make-Ups: May 8-12, in all subject and in grades 7 and 8
The Keystone Exams are the end-of-course assessments from the Pennsylvania Department of Education designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.
Keystone Exam Schedule
The Spring Keystones will be taking place first thing in the morning on the following dates:
- Algebra 1 (Module 1 & 2 respectively): May 16 & 17 - 8:31am- 10:52 am
- Biology (Module 1 & 2 respectively): May 18 & 19 - 8:31am- 10:52 am
- Literature (Module 1 & 2 respectively): May 22 & 13 - 8:31am- 10:52 am
- Make-Up Testing (Any Missed Subject/Module): May 24-25
Students currently enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra I part 2, Biology Academic & Honors, and English 10 Academic & Honors will take the corresponding Keystone Exam this spring.
If you have questions as to whether or not your student should be taking the exam, please contact the high school office to speak with the guidance counselor or a principal.
Students not taking the exam will report to classes as usual on the days of the exams.
Religious Opt Out
Should a parent decide to opt their child of a Keystone exam due to religious objections, they would first need submit a written request to the superintendent to review the exams in writing.A time for the parent to review the Keystone Exam in question will be scheduled with the building level administration. Following the review of the exam(s), they would then submit a formal written request to the superintendent for their child to be opted out of the specific Keystone exam due to religious objections.
Should a parent decide to opt their child of a Keystone exam due to religious objections, they would first need submit a written request to the superintendent to review the exams in writing.A time for the parent to review the Keystone Exam in question will be scheduled with the building level administration. Following the review of the exam(s), they would then submit a formal written request to the superintendent for their child to be opted out of the specific Keystone exam due to religious objections.
Keystone Graduation Requirements
Classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018
- Students must take each of the three Keystone Exams; Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature. (PA requirement)
- If a student scores below proficient on a Keystone Exam, they will need to take Keystone remediation then retake the exam in the Winter.
Classes of 2019 and Beyond
- Students must take each of the three Keystone Exams; Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature. (PA requirement)
- If a student scores below proficient on a Keystone Exam, they will need to take Keystone remediation then retake the exam in the Winter.
- If a student scores below proficient on a Keystone Exam, they will need to take and pass the corresponding Project Based Assessment
Senate Bill 880 and its Impact
On February 3, 2016, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 880 into law. In addition to delaying the use of Keystone Exams or the Project Based Assessments as graduation requirements until the 2018-2019 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has been charged with the following:
Implement alternative methods for students to demonstrate proficiency for graduation in addition to the Keystone Exams, Project Based Assessment and other alternative assessments provided for in 22 Pa. Code § 4.24.
- Improve and expedite the evaluation of Project Based Assessments.
- Ensure that no student is prohibited from participation in vocational-technical education or elective courses or programs as a result of supplemental instruction as required in § 22 Pa. Code §§ 4.24 (k) and 4.51B (f).
To provide direction to LEAs, PDE provides the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to clarify the implications of SB 880.
Questions may be directed to [email protected].
Senate Bill 880 FAQ
With Senate Bill 880 signed into law by Governor Wolf on February 3, 2016, the use of Keystone Exams as a state graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a Project Based Assessment is delayed until the 2018-2019 school year. The FAQs below are designed to clarify the implications of SB 880 and provide guidance for LEAs.
This Frequently Asked Questions document is designed to address the impact on students who will graduate prior to 2019.
1. Is participation in the Keystone Exams still required?
The federal requirements regarding state assessments have not changed. While students graduating prior to 2019 are no longer required to demonstrate proficiency on the Keystone Exams in order to meet the state graduation requirements, participation in the state assessments remains a federal requirement. Keep in mind that while proficiency is not a PA requirement, it is a PTSD local graduation requirement. Therefore, a student must pass all three Keystone exams or take and pass the corresponding Keystone remediation classes.
2. Given SB 880, what graduation requirements remain for students in the graduating classes of 2017 and 2018?
The following modified Chapter 4 requirements shall apply:
- Course completion and grades.
- Demonstration of proficiency as determined by the school district, charter school (including a cyber charter school) or AVTS, if applicable, in each of the state academic standards not assessed by a state assessment under § 4.51, § 4.51a or § 4.51b (relating to state assessment system; Pennsylvania System of School Assessment; and Keystone Exams).
Note: The paragraph above should also apply to the English Language Arts and Mathematics; Science and Technology and Environment and Ecology standards based upon the two-year delay provided by Senate Bill 880.
3. If a student is graduating prior to 2019 and has not achieved proficiency on a Keystone Exam, is supplemental instruction still required?
Schools shall offer supplemental instruction. It is a PTSD local graduation requirement that students participate in the corresponding Keystone remediation classes. The design of supplemental instruction remains a local decision.
4. If a student is graduating prior to 2019 and has not achieved proficiency on a Keystone Exam after one administration, is a retest required?
Retesting is not required the state, but is required by PTSD. If a student does retest, the school must offer supplemental instruction prior to the retesting.Since proficiency on the Keystone exams is a PTSD local graduation requirement, retesting is automatically scheduled following the offering of supplemental instruction typically in the form of the corresponding remediation classes.
5. What requirements are in place regarding transcripts?
Chapter 4 requirements regarding transcripts are still applicable: § 4.24.
High school graduation requirements. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the performance level demonstrated in each of the academic standards in subsections (c)8212;(e) shall be included on student transcripts. The information presented on a transcript must include the highest performance level demonstrated by a student on the associated Keystone Exam, validated local assessment or project-based assessment at the time the transcript is produced.
6. In summary, what parts of Chapter 4 are suspended?
The following highlights the impact of the moratorium on students graduating in 2017 and 2018:
- The state graduation requirement to demonstrate proficiency on the associated Keystone Exam or related Project Based Assessment is suspended.
- The administration of Project Based Assessments for students not proficient after two Keystone attempts is not required.
- Student participation in supplemental instruction is no longer required; however, a school must offer supplemental instruction as an option. (See #3 and 4 above.)
7. Looking ahead, what options will be available to students to meet the state graduation requirements after the expiration of the moratorium?
As required by SB 880, PDE has been charged with investigating and developing alternatives in addition to the use of the Keystone Exams as a requirement for graduation and shall within six months issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the following:
- Implement alternative methods for students to demonstrate proficiency for graduation in addition to Keystone Exams, Project Based Assessments and other alternatives provided for in Chapter 4.
- Improve and expedite the evaluation of Project Based Assessments.
- Ensure that no student is prohibited from participation in vocational-technical education or elective courses or programs as a result of supplemental instruction.
